Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development, including failure to provide a VA examination as instructed in the July 2019 remand. The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is still at issue and requires further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for bilateral congenital pes planus with bilateral metatarsalgia is dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues related to his service-connected hip, knee, and ankle conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), but denied service connection for neck and right knee disorders. The case is remanded for further development regarding the claims of service connection for OSA, GERD, and other conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of recent Fort Bragg medical records and for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFS) limitation of flexion are denied as his range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to service, including his in-service injury and post-service work injury, as well as whether it is aggravated by his service-connected multiple sclerosis.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. The issues of increased ratings for right knee internal derangement with traumatic arthritis, instability of the right knee, and residuals of a right total knee arthroplasty are being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are service-connected and granted.,Degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine with degenerative disc disease and disc extrusions is not rated higher than 40 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated private treatment records and SSA disability records. The VA examiner will also be asked to assess the current severity of his left knee disability, including any flare-ups or functional loss.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee torn anterior cruciate ligament, status post medial collateral ligament surgery is denied as the highest schedular rating has been assigned.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, neck, and stomach disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding service connection for right knee disability. The Veteran's lay statements and in-service complaints are considered, along with a new examination.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations. The Veteran's surgical scars of the left knee are not manifest by an area or areas of 144 square inches (929 sq. cm.) or greater and do not result in any disabling effects.,The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, other than persistent somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain, is secondary to his service-connected residuals, left knee strain. The issue has been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for collarbone, right shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations. The case is now pending further development.

The Board has decided to remand two issues related to patellar tendonitis of the left and right knees, as additional development is needed due to lack of joint stability testing.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for a scar of the left elbow, service connection for bilateral pes planus, and service connection for his knee disabilities are being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with prior Board instructions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board has granted a higher rating. The other issues have been resolved in favor of the Veteran.