Knee decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these disabilities began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral strain, bilateral knee disorder, headaches, sinus disorder, and gastrointestinal (GI) disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or chronicity of these conditions, and the medical opinions provided did not support a nexus to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities due to outdated VA treatment records and a lack of recent examination reports.

The Board has restored ratings for limitation of flexion and instability of both knees, but reduced the ratings for right knee instability and left knee instability. The reduction was granted as it is determined that there was actual improvement in the disabilities under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical records and a need for clarification on which knee had surgery, as well as obtaining relevant surgical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability since an August 2010 VA examination. The claim is now pending for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and compliance with proper notice requirements.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, second finger of the left hand disability, and TBI.,Further development is required to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for her left knee condition and service connection for right foot metatarsalgia and hallux rigidus have been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of these appeals.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for a right knee condition due to deficiencies in the prior decision and lack of retrospective opinions on functional impairment during specific time periods.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for her service-connected left knee strain is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for further examination. The examiner must reconcile previous and current diagnoses, assess range of motion with pain, and determine if there is instability.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical expenses incurred from March 12, 2007, to May 5, 2007, related to his left knee surgery is denied because he did not seek or receive VA authorization for the services.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for TDIU from June 9, 2009, finding that his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee patellofemoral arthritis is being remanded due to the failure to provide proper notice of an examination scheduled by VA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss have been reopened, and both conditions are now granted. The appeal is also granted for the evaluation of left shoulder tendonitis and left clavicle spur, lumbar spondylosis and osteophytosis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), uterine fibroids, migraines, hypertension, residual scar from ventral hernia repair, anxiety, memory loss, sleep disturbances, knee disorder, and fibromyalgia. The appeal is remanded for further evaluations and determinations on these issues.

The Board has determined that new and significant evidence has been added to the claims file since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) issued in June 2019. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities may affect his ability to work, which is considered part of the TDIU claim. Therefore, all issues are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that there is relative equipoise in the evidence regarding whether these conditions had their onset during his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and iliotibial band friction syndrome of the right knee, finding that both conditions are at least as likely as not related to active duty.,Service connection was denied for an acquired psychiatric disability due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's fibromyalgia is rated at 40 percent effective April 30, 2019. The claim of service connection for a heart disorder has been reopened and granted due to new evidence indicating potential inservice onset. Service connection for allergic rhinitis, asthma, and acquired psychiatric disorders are all granted on a presumptive basis.,The Veteran's right knee, left knee, left shoulder, left hand, and left wrist disorders have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her claims at the November 2021 Board hearing.