Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain disorder, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, left knee patellofemoral pain disorder, and chronic lumbar strain with facet hypertrophy and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) from specific dates. The claims are remanded for retrospective opinions to determine these issues.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show limitation of motion severe enough to warrant a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as depressive disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder, is granted service connection. The case has been remanded for further action regarding OSA, left ankle, right ankle, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded several issues including rating increases and service connection determinations.

The Veteran was granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to March 31, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board found that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection was denied for both left wrist and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing their onset during service or being related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthroplasty and meniscectomy, is not rated higher than the current assigned ratings due to lack of evidence supporting more severe functional loss or residual weakness/pain.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, effective August 11, 2009. The decision found that the Veteran's current knee conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for left knee ITBS was granted, with a separate 10% rating assigned for instability. Service connection for an anxiety disorder and remand for service connection claims related to heel spurs, low back disability, and chronic headaches were also addressed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a new VA examination to assess his right and left knee disabilities, as previous examinations did not adequately address pain during range of motion testing.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pneumonia has been dismissed as the claim was recharacterized and granted in a previous rating decision.,Service connection for heart arrhythmia is denied. The Board found that there is no persuasive weight of evidence to support the Veteran's contention that his current condition is related to military service.

The Veteran's initial ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been denied as the evidence does not show flexion or extension limited to a compensable degree.,Service connection has been granted for low back pain with limited motion, but not for left hand disability or right hand disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination results and a need for further development, including an additional VA examination to reassess the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for further evaluation of his left knee disabilities, specifically instability and total knee replacement.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain an addendum opinion addressing the Veteran's lay contentions about his knee injuries during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities due to incomplete development of the record, including obtaining physical therapy records and conducting a new examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an anxiety disorder and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence, including a need for further examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to March 30, 2018, on an extraschedular basis due to the evidence not showing that his service-connected disabilities alone rendered him unemployable.

The Board has remanded the case due to a flawed rationale in the VA examiner's opinion. The Veteran is presumed to have entered service in sound condition, and the burden falls on VA to rebut this presumption with clear and unmistakable evidence that any pre-existing right knee disability existed prior to service.