Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as cervical spine disability, all of which are claimed to be related to a motor vehicle accident in 1973. The appeals have been remanded due to inadequate examination reports that did not address each claim individually.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The claims for sinus disability, acquired mental health disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee with arthritis were denied. The Board found no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and active service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, lower back condition, and left hand injury have been denied.,There is no evidence showing that the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran is entitled to retroactive CRDP compensation payments for the periods from March 1, 2010, through May 31, 2012, and July 19, 2012, through April 30, 2014. However, it is unclear if he received the full amount of VA compensation benefits he was entitled to for the period prior to March 1, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to July 15, 2013.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling an examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disorder. The claim for service connection for hypertension remains denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current right knee disorders and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of VA medical examination and missing relevant medical records.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle and right knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions were not related to service or within one year of separation.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's statements about his injuries during basic training are considered, but a new VA examination is needed to determine if his current knee conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, left foot disability, left skin disability, and headaches due to additional development. The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is not found to be related to his claimed disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for a bilateral knee disability as the appellant requested to withdraw their appeal prior to any decision being made.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for osteoarthritis and granted a 20 percent rating for lateral instability as of September 11, 2017. The claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's right knee strain, left knee strain, and cervical strain have been granted service connection. For the period from February 26, 2013 to August 1, 2019, a rating of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol use disorder has been granted. The Veteran's hip disabilities (right and left) are rated at 30 percent each since November 15, 2017. The Veteran's right and left hips have limitations in extension and flexion.

The Board denied service connection for asthma, sinus disorder, right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral foot disorder. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted (bilateral foot disorder) while others were remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to deficiencies in the VA examinations and because a decision on one issue could impact another.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as due to presumed in-service herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's other musculoskeletal conditions are attributable to his conceded in-service exposure to toxic herbicide agents.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of back, right knee, and left knee conditions due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding parachute jumps during service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to increased disability ratings for right and left knee disorders due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination.