Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent since April 1, 2014. The appeal remains on hold for further development.,The Veteran's left ankle sprain and cervical spine disability are not entitled to increased evaluations.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been characterized by pain and degenerative changes, but the limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, extension limited to 10 degrees or more, favorable ankylosis of the knee at full extension or in slight flexion between 0 and 10 degrees, and recurrent subluxation or instability that is 'moderate' in nature have not been shown. As such, entitlement to increased ratings for his left knee disabilities has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran contends that his left knee disability is caused by an altered gait due to service-connected toe disabilities, but no clear opinion was provided.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied claims for lumbosacral strain (low back disability) and right knee joint osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hand joint disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hand disability due to his withdrawal. The remaining issues have been remanded, including back, neck, right shoulder, right knee, right ankle, and left hip disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for left eye disability, headaches, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings for her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been withdrawn. The Board finds that the reduction of his disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent was improper, and restored the original 30 percent evaluation.,The Veteran has been granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer, both presumed due to herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left eye disabilities have not been reopened. The claim for higher staged ratings for left ankle tendonitis is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability alone prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU rating effective May 1, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left knee disability is dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from May 28, 2015 to October 31, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities. After this period, the Board denied TDIU as of October 31, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incorrect legal standards used in previous opinions regarding aggravation of service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right and left knee arthritis, as well as meniscal tears, were denied. The decision does not specify the effective date.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a cardiovascular disability, prostate cancer, and right knee disability have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that would support these claims. The Board found the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's left knee is rated at 20% for dislocation of semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain and effusion since February 17, 2009. A separate rating of 10% was granted for painful motion prior to October 13, 2016.,Service connection for a left hip condition secondary to the Veteran's left knee disability is remanded due to lack of evidence and need for medical opinion.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as service-connected. For the period prior to January 24, 2020, his cervical spine torticollis is rated at 10 percent and for the period from January 24, 2020, it is rated at 20 percent.,Right and left upper extremity radiculopathy are referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for urinary incontinence as a neurological complication of lumbar degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease is granted on and after January 13, 2016. The claims for TDIU, excess ratings for various knee conditions, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and kidney stones are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions addressing nexus and aggravation.