Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for a cervical spine disorder, as well as addressing whether the Veteran's current knee disabilities are related to his military service. The issues of service connection for right and left knee disabilities remain denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability, including a meniscal tear and tendinopathy, did not begin during service or be related to any in-service injury or disease. The most persuasive evidence of record does not support finding that the current left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent from November 7, 2022. The right knee disability is rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and TDIU due to unemployability prior to January 29, 2015. The reasons include deficiencies in the November 2022 examination report and need for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for back and left knee disabilities due to new evidence suggesting a worsening of symptoms since previous examinations.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for osteoarthritis of right knee, right hip, and back. The claims are being remanded to obtain VA treatment records, SSA records, and private treatment records as well as an addendum VA opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for right knee arthritis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for right knee arthritis (limitation of flexion) prior to June 15, 2018 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for right knee arthritis (limitation of extension) from April 24, 2012 is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for status post right total knee replacement is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including obtaining medical records and scheduling new examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand requests. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the knee disability claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on his claims for service connection and other issues. As such, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and no service connection decisions were made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability and hypertension due to incomplete development of his service treatment records, conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions, and new information from the PACT Act.

The Veteran's right knee disability and respiratory disorder are found to have onset during service, warranting service connection. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the respiratory disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating of various disabilities, including right and left knee disabilities, an unspecified depressive disorder with anxious disorder, sleep apnea as secondary to a psychiatric disability, and TDIU. The remand is due to incomplete opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various foot, knee, and shoulder disabilities are being remanded due to insufficient examination reports. The examiner failed to provide a clear opinion regarding the etiology of his conditions and did not address all relevant issues.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and post-reconstruction ACL and meniscectomy, has been rated at 10 percent since March 3, 2020. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders (PTSD and MDD), left shoulder disability, right hip disability, cubital tunnel syndrome, and right hamstring disabilities. The issues include determining whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen claims for service connection, evaluating the severity of the disabilities, and considering entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left and right knee disabilities due to the need for further delay in obtaining medical records, as well as the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PFB, right knee PFS, and left shoulder acromioclavicular osteoarthritis have been granted. The conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities.