Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a psychiatric disorder have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, back disability, radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities, bilateral shoulder, knee, hip disabilities, and migraines due to insufficient evidence on whether these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the service-connected disabilities granted in his December 2015 rating decision. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to verify the dates of active-duty service prior to September 23, 2014.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining STRs and VA/privately obtained treatment records. The claims are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The claims are related to his right knee disabilities and low back disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total replacement with degenerative arthritis, is rated at 60 percent effective January 17, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left hip osteoarthritis and left knee instability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders did not meet the criteria for higher staged initial ratings.,The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions did not meet the criteria for higher staged initial ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 30, 2020. The case is remanded for consideration of extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's left knee disability, at its worst, has been limited to flexion of 70 degrees. The Board denied a higher rating as the current limitation does not meet the criteria for any higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability, or causal relationship to service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, which he claims is related to his service-connected left knee strain, should be remanded for further evaluation.

The appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed as moot.,Service connection granted for tinnitus, with the Veteran having a current diagnosis and in-service incurrence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities caused or aggravated his congestive heart failure, leading to his death. The decision is in favor of granting service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ascertain the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, including range of motion measurements. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and pterygium conditions have not been rated as compensable. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for these conditions.,The Veteran's left knee, right knee, low back, and lower extremity neurologic disabilities are all remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no remaining case or controversy regarding the issue of service connection for a left knee disorder.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, and chondromalacia of the left knee due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his active service. The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left knee injury.