Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a maximum schedular rating of 100 percent effective October 6, 2022. Claims for left knee disability, right ankle disability, and right ear hearing loss were granted with new evidence. Other claims are being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his right and left ankle disabilities, are not service-connected.,The Veteran testified about experiencing knee and ankle issues during basic training and boot camp. He also mentioned ongoing pain in these areas post-service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence in some areas, particularly regarding the Veteran's left hand and wrist scarring and her left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee condition began during service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, but no higher.,The Veteran's quadricep tear residuals are rated at 10 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for various foot, knee, and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing their onset during or relation to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to an inadequate September 2020 VA examination, which did not include joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing. The Veteran must be scheduled for a new VA medical examination.

The claims for right shoulder, right knee, and back disabilities have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,The claim for bladder incontinence disability is being remanded as it does not involve service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to be related to his current diagnoses of OSA, hypertension, GERD, heart disease, and stroke. The Veteran's headaches are rated as 50% disabling throughout the appeal period.

The Board has granted reconsideration of the previously denied claims for service connection for a left knee condition and a right shoulder condition, but these claims are still pending as they have been remanded due to missing medical records.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for diabetes has been granted. The case is remanded for further development and rating actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and a bilateral knee condition, finding that there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that any current conditions are not secondary to his lower back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right knee disability and depressive disorder, have caused him to be unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 31, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU from June 1, 2015 to the present.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, neck, right knee, and left knee disorders due to inconsistencies in his reported injuries during military service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and musculoskeletal conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for left knee condition, right knee chondromalacia, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, residuals of a left ankle stress fracture, and migraines are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's right knee instability and painful motion have been granted increased ratings, with the instability rated at 20% from September 11, 2012 to September 20, 2022, and a separate rating of 10% for painful motion. The TDIU claim prior to March 16, 2012 has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, particularly knee, back, shoulder, heart, TBI, and headache. Additional development is required including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, and therefore, the claim is denied.,For the remaining claims, the Board finds insufficient evidence to determine whether any of these conditions are related to service.