Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of an adequate VA examination in the previous decisions. The case is now back with the Board for development.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities are denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on painful motion with noncompensable limitation of motion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives and insufficient rationale for a negative nexus opinion. The Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to his in-service injuries, but further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a psychiatric examination to determine if any diagnosed conditions are related to service. The claims for low back disability and left knee disability were denied as new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

An effective date of March 26, 2015 was granted for a 10 percent disability rating for asthma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as a respiratory disability. The claims are being returned to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran is awarded a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective April 10, 2003. The Board finds that the criteria for an earlier effective date of June 10, 2002, but no earlier, have been met.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have begun during service and granted service connection.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability was denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it began in or was related to service.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, bilateral pes planus, degenerative arthritis with instability of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis with instability of the right knee are all granted service connection. The Veteran's tinnitus is also granted service connection.,However, chronic fatigue syndrome, right ear hearing loss, a right ankle disorder, and a left ankle disorder remain pending for further review.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination regarding service connection for left and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims are related to motor vehicle accidents in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for rating increases for right knee and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations in the previous remand. New VA examinations are needed to assess the severity of these conditions during flare-ups.

The Board has denied service connection for various knee, arm, shoulder, and wrist disorders due to the lack of current diagnoses in the record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further examination and opinion are needed to determine the nature and etiology of his hip, knee, ankle, and lumbar spine disorders.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeals for the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, right wrist condition, right shoulder condition, left knee condition, and low back condition. The Board has dismissed these appeals as per the Veteran's request.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for loss of teeth is denied. The Board has also remanded several other issues including the claims for OSA, numbness and tingling in the face, sternocleidomastoid facial muscle impairment, right knee disability, bilateral falling arches (flat feet), left foot degenerative joint disease, right foot degenerative joint disease, migraines and/or headaches, as well as service connection for TMJ.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his right knee disability is remanded due to inadequate examination and the need to consider both old and new rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including sarcoidosis, right hip disability, avascular necrosis, osteoporosis, glaucoma (eye disability), a right hand disability, a left hand disability, hypertension, and bilateral foot disabilities. The issues are being addressed due to new evidence associated with his file.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including gastrointestinal, elbow, hip, knee, shin, ankle, and foot conditions. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of any of these conditions at the time of her claims.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and initial ratings for her left knee and hip disabilities was denied. She received a single, increased 50 percent rating for left knee ACL repair with arthritis and ankylosis effective October 21, 2016. A separate 20 percent rating for left knee instability was granted from the same date. Initial ratings of 40 percent and 20 percent were granted for left hip osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion and abduction respectively, both effective October 21, 2016. The Veteran received a 70 percent rating for left hip osteoarthritis with ankylosis from November 11, 2020.