Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right knee disability did not worsen during service, and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence being added since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case. The Veteran and his representative will be provided an additional SSOC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, wrist, and knee conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between her current diagnoses and her military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issues on appeal, including obtaining VA and non-VA medical records, as well as Social Security Administration disability benefits records. The Veteran's right leg disability and left knee condition are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated based on the severity of his symptoms and impairment. The appeal is remanded as there are issues with the rating for different periods.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee and lumbar spine disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, consistent with his level of education and prior employment history. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, right knee tendinitis (limitation of flexion), and lumbar strain due to inadequate examinations. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee status-post total arthroplasty is currently rated at 50 percent from August 1, 2015. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to continuity of symptomatology.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hearing loss for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection for an acquired mental health disorder (including PTSD and insomnia disorder) is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for a left knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the issue.,Service connection for a low back disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the issue.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for bilateral blepharitis is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for a headache disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and clarification of her contentions regarding her eye disability, bilateral hip and knee disabilities, and peripheral edema.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that these conditions are not proximately due to or caused by his service-connected multi-level degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with IVDS.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee meniscal tear was denied. The Board found that the flexion limitation did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5260.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for axonal peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, right ankle disorder, and right knee disorder. However, these claims are still being remanded as VA is required to provide a medical examination to determine if there is a nexus between the current disabilities and the in-service events.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been granted an initial 10 percent rating. The Board finds further development is required for the claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disability and surgical scars are being remanded due to the need for a DRO hearing.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including rating determinations and service connection for various conditions. The case is returned to the AOJ for initial review of new evidence.

The Board has ordered a new examination for the Veteran's right knee disability and requested additional records, including VA treatment records from Salisbury and Community Care Program records. The Veteran was also asked to submit hard copies of documents contained on a CD and complete a TDIU application form.

The Board has remanded three issues related to increased ratings for various knee and cervical spine conditions due to the submission of new evidence since the last Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to unclear functional loss and incomplete examination reports.