Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded several issues related to service connection and rating criteria due to the need for additional medical examinations or studies.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, adjustment disorder with anxiety, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and other conditions were denied. The Veteran was granted a separate 20 percent rating for her right knee meniscal tear from September 25, 2019. Other increased ratings were also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied prior to October 6, 2021 as he was employed in a substantially gainful occupation with reported earnings above the poverty threshold level for a single person and a household of two people.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during active service.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of PTSD and left knee disability, as well as service connection for a right knee disability, are remanded due to the need for additional development. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's right knee limitation of flexion is granted from December 17, 2014. The rating for right knee instability and extension remains denied.

The Board has restored the prior disability ratings of 20 percent for service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right knee and ligamentous strain with instability, right knee.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, low back disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability due to inadequate opinions in previous examinations.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claims for service connection for tinnitus and a left knee disability has been granted.,His claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of anterior cruciate ligament repair of the right knee is remanded, as well as his claim for service connection for a left knee disability secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee conditions, PTSD, depression, chronic anger state, and alcohol abuse have been granted due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residual(s) of a right knee injury and left knee injury, finding that there was no evidence to support the claim.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability resulting in paralysis, as it is not related to his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's urinary/bladder disorder and left knee disorder are remanded for further review due to incomplete VA medical opinions regarding the cause of his conditions.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability based on limitation of flexion and extension, effective September 2, 2011.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that it is not related to her service-connected conditions and is more likely due to natural progression of osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and her left knee disability is also rated at 10 percent. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a cervical spine disability.,Both knees are currently evaluated based on limitation of motion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disorders, as well as his claim for a left knee disorder. The evidence did not show any chronic conditions related to service.

The Board has found that remand is necessary for the Veteran to undergo additional examinations and obtain a more complete medical opinion regarding his left knee instability and nephrolithiasis. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings and an earlier effective date are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining more current VA examinations and unassociated federal records. The Veteran's claims for higher initial disability ratings for right knee, left knee, and right wrist disabilities are being reviewed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.