Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left ankle, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee conditions have been denied. The highest schedular ratings available under the applicable rating criteria are already in place.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and effective dates due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's upper back, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, left foot, and bilateral hand disabilities are all under review.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted a 70 percent evaluation, effective from the date of claim. A TDIU is also granted, effective March 2, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging new VA examinations. The Veteran will be provided a supplemental statement of the case after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and left knee condition have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for PTSD. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and left knee conditions are remanded due to incomplete records.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine condition, but denied service connection for all other claimed conditions.,The Veteran's current lumbar spine condition is considered to be related to his active-duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for lower back, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The evidence supports the Veteran's claims of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disorders, low back disorder, and scars have been remanded due to substantial worsening of symptoms. Additional examinations are needed to determine the current extent and severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee instability is now rated at 30 percent effective March 10, 2017. His chondromalacia patella continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating of his disabilities of the low back, left knee, and right knee due to medical questions remaining and the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip/groin disability, bilateral knee disability, and constipation are not resolved. The case is being remanded to obtain VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran was granted a 60 percent disability rating for residuals of total right knee replacement from May 1, 2019 to September 17, 2019.,A higher 60 percent disability rating was also granted from January 1, 2020.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for increased disability rating, service connection claims, and TDIU based on his withdrawal of appeal.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 20 percent rating effective November 26, 2019. The right shoulder and right knee disabilities are denied higher ratings. Bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. A TDIU determination has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for lower back pain, right knee pain, and left knee pain due to incomplete records from the Veteran's active service. The VA will need to search all relevant record repositories and obtain any available STRs.

The Board has dismissed the claim for nonservice-connected pension from July 8, 2019 and after as moot due to the Veteran's service-connected disability rating. The claim is remanded for additional development regarding pension prior to July 8, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish an in-service stressor related to posttraumatic stress disorder, and denied entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to January 26, 2021 and thereafter for right knee instability, and entitlement to a compensable rating for right knee limitation of extension. The Veteran's claim for increased rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis and patellar spur was remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability on a direct incurrence basis and remanded his secondary service connection (aggravation) claim.

The Veteran's left knee and ankle disabilities have not met the criteria for a higher rating than 10 percent under applicable VA regulations.,The Veteran's left knee disability, despite chronic pain with flare-ups, has been found to retain near full range of motion. The left ankle disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of instability or frequent episodes of locking.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee and left ankle disabilities, including a request for increased ratings and whether new evidence supports reopening a right ankle fracture claim. The VA will conduct examinations to assess current disability levels and provide an SOC on the reopened issue.