Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate prior examinations and a need for further VA evaluation of the Veteran's right knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various foot, knee, and low back disabilities due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran is requested to provide any STRs he may have in his possession and for VA to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, finding no medical nexus between his current condition and his military service. The Veteran had argued that his PTSD caused or aggravated his knee condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further clarification and examination of the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, right knee disability, and TDIU claim due to incomplete or unclear examination reports.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted an initial 10 percent disability rating, but his right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are not fully addressed due to incomplete VA examinations. The issues must be remanded to afford the Veteran a new examination.

The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, heart condition, hypothyroidism, migratory inflammatory arthritis of the elbows, wrists, fingers, thumbs, hips, and knees, as well as left and right shoulder conditions due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.,Service connection was not granted because there is no medical evidence showing that any of the claimed conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and for a higher rating for his right knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection and functional loss.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been granted a 70 percent rating, effective from October 11, 2022. Other conditions have also received increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding nonweight-bearing range of motion testing and additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot, left foot, right knee, and left knee disabilities diagnosed as arthritis, finding that the Veteran's complaints of pain during and since his period of service are credible and at least in equipoise with the negative medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected arthritic conditions have rendered her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and such impairment is permanent in nature.,An award of eligibility for SAH precludes a separate SHA grant due to the loss of use of both feet.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee osteoarthritis (associated with left knee impairment), and rheumatoid arthritis. The appeal is remanded to obtain updated evidence regarding the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and increased rating for gouty arthritis of both feet are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ must obtain addendum opinions addressing the relationship between his knee disability and gout, as well as evaluate the severity of his gout under the amended criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The right knee strain, left knee strain, and right ankle strain are all granted with a rating of 30 percent each. Other claims are remanded.

The Board has identified a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the February 2019 rating decision and has remanded both issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating for left knee osteoarthritis and patellar chondromalacia, and entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating based on these conditions.

The claims for service connection of various conditions are being remanded due to the failure to provide proper notice and assistance prior to the April 2020 rating decision.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, vertigo, and skin disability due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for these conditions. The claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder and a lumbar spine disability remains pending as remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of bilateral pes planus. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further development.