Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection claim for a gastrointestinal disability (other than gastroesophageal reflux disease) is denied. The claims for increased ratings of lumbar spine, right knee chondromalacia with quadriceps and popliteal tendinopathy and osteoarthritis, left knee chondromalacia with quadriceps and popliteal tendinopathy and osteoarthritis, and right knee meniscal tear are all denied. The Veteran's service-connected residual scars, bilateral gynecomastia, status post liposuction and bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy, and residual scars of the anterior trunk and chest do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left knee disabilities. The issues include determining if these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities and TDIU prior to February 6, 2020 was denied due to lack of evidence of current disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected left knee disability alone.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for eye, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disorders due to outstanding service treatment records and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee tibial stress fracture and left leg shin splints with left knee strain due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, obesity, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5257.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disorders, finding that they are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 22, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bunion and right knee disabilities, finding no current disability related to her active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a right ankle sprain due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding the etiology of these conditions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition and erectile dysfunction (ED) due to procedural issues related to VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral foot fungus, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility are granted. The Board has found the Veteran unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, which include left knee degenerative arthritis with limited extension, muscular atrophy, instability, and flexion limitations. The right knee disability is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding potential VA causation or aggravation. The rating for left knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of extension is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 50 percent effective July 27, 2021. The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for left knee disability.,The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability. The AOJ found that no increase in disability was factually ascertainable prior to May 10, 2016.,The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 60 percent and the Board has remanded this issue.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for headaches, left knee strain, and right knee strain due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection. Additional development is needed to address all theories of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability as being aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, secondary to his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, is granted. The reduction in rating for service-connected left ankle tarsal tunnel syndrome from 20% to noncompensable effective August 8, 2014, is not proper.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and ratings related to left knee, left ankle, right knee limitation of flexion, and right ankle degenerative joint disease.