Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis, is related to his active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and other musculoskeletal issues. The decision is pending further review.

The Veteran's right foot bunions, corns, and calluses are related to service.,The Veteran's left foot bunions, corns, and calluses are related to service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder (including sleep disturbances and PTSD), back condition, and left knee strain due to service-connected right knee strain. The claims are being returned for further development including new examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities were denied. The initial rating for right knee limitation of extension was denied prior to September 1, 2022, with a final rating of 30 percent effective from that date.,The initial rating for left knee limitation of extension was denied prior to September 1, 2022, with a final rating of 30 percent effective from that date. From September 1, 2022, the Veteran's claims were granted at a 30 percent rating for both knees.,The initial ratings for instability of the right and left knees were denied prior to February 18, 2021, with separate 10 percent ratings effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability is remanded due to incomplete range of motion testing results. The case will be scheduled for an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and PTSD are remanded due to the need for new examinations and consideration of updated rating criteria.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee and back disabilities, after considering all evidence in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hip and knee conditions are not related to his active military service, but may be secondary to other service-connected disabilities. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various knee and ankle conditions, as well as a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction due to new evidence being submitted.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee strain and meniscal injury, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee and left knee osteoarthritis as there was no in-service injury or disease, and the symptoms did not manifest during service. The Veteran's current knee conditions are found to have onset after service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to July 27, 2015 due to insufficient evidence showing that she was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's stomach condition is remanded to obtain an opinion regarding direct service connection and secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting VA examination findings and insufficient information for ratings purposes. The Veteran's right knee conditions need further clarification.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran is not entitled to a rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion, but granted separate 10 percent ratings for mild instability from December 27, 2016 to January 30, 2019 and for moderate instability starting from January 30, 2019.

Service connection has been granted for right and left knee disabilities.,Compensation pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is being remanded for further review due to the Veteran's challenge of the competency of the VA examiners.