Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a facial disability, left and right knee disorders, sleep condition, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are being reviewed due to new evidence received since the last final rating decision.

The Board has vacated the November 2022 decision that granted a TDIU prior to January 27, 2014 due to incorrect application of regulations. The case is now remanded for further review and consideration.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities have been granted. The decision also addressed the issues of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), which was remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back condition, diabetes, hypertension, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastrointestinal disability, left knee disability, and insomnia have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for a left knee disability and insomnia.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for synovitis of the left knee and lateral instability of the left knee since January 19, 2018 are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 20 percent rating since July 27, 2022. The condition is not service-connected and no new evidence has been presented.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied across multiple conditions, with the exception of a 30 percent rating for GERD granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right hand disability, lumbar spine disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the onset or causation of these disabilities during his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address functional loss during flare-ups and instability.

The Veteran's right hand condition, thoracolumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and bilateral knee disability are all granted. The Veteran is also awarded a higher rating for his service-connected right hand condition.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during its pendency.

The Board has granted separate 20 percent ratings for right knee locking and left knee locking. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for PTSD and right knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for genu varum with recurrent dislocation of the right patella has been reopened due to new and material evidence. The claims for left and right knee disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the adequacy of a previous VA medical opinion regarding aggravation of the right knee disability by the service-connected left knee condition. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal is granted, with an earlier effective date of August 11, 2003 for the 20 percent rating assigned for her right knee meniscus condition and a 10 percent rating assigned for her right knee arthritis. Service connection for a left knee disability is also granted.

The Veteran's left knee lateral meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis have been rated, with the highest available rating of 30 percent for instability since July 31, 2015. A separate 20 percent rating has also been granted for 'locking,' pain, and effusion into the joint from August 10, 2021. The Veteran's limitation of flexion is rated at a 10 percent level as of August 7, 2018.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee and back disabilities are secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, granting service connection for these conditions.