Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete service records and inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's complete military personnel file, separation examination reports, and any outstanding medical records are required. Further evaluations by VA are needed to address the etiology of his current disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of these conditions.,The Veteran seeks higher disability ratings for his lumbar spine degenerative arthritis with chronic lumbar strain, lower back spasm, and IVDS. The Board has requested an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to estimate the Veteran's range of motion during repeated use over time and during flare-ups.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability. The issues have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the inability to conduct VA examinations for his bilateral hearing loss and left knee disabilities. The examinations were rescheduled multiple times, but the Veteran was unable to attend.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right knee, and sleep apnea syndrome due to inadequate development in previous examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of sinusitis and left knee degenerative arthritis for further evaluation due to insufficient examinations conducted over 8 years ago.

The Veteran's hip and knee disabilities have been denied as her conditions do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been remanded due to procedural issues. A SOC must be issued and the Veteran must either perfect his appeal or opt into the AMA.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, including bilateral hips, knees, hands, thumbs, ankles, lumbar spine, and cervical spine.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and bilateral knee disorder have been granted. The claim for the respiratory disorder is due to an undiagnosed illness, while the claim for the bilateral knee disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to concerns about the competency of a VA examiner who evaluated his knee conditions. The issues include seeking higher disability ratings for right knee arthritis, meniscal tear, and related conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for right hip and knee disabilities related to his back disability are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's hearing loss and hypertension have been denied, while his knee disabilities remain under review.,Service connection for the Veteran's left toe condition (gout), diabetes (due to service-connected hypertension), and right knee osteoarthritis with subluxation are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records, specifically for the appellant's Reserve and Louisiana Army National Guard service as well as his service at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The AOJ is required to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various knee, hip, and neck disorders due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptoms since service discharge.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee disabilities and a TDIU were denied. The rating for left knee degenerative changes and internal derangement prior to June 20, 2022, was denied as the disability did not meet criteria for higher ratings under either pre-amended or amended DCs. The rating for left knee instability was also denied due to lack of persistent instability. A TDIU was granted based on combined schedular ratings exceeding 70 percent.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities as they have been granted in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left knee condition is denied, and the right knee condition is remanded due to unclear medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.