Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20% and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10% and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions and verifying service periods. The Veteran's right knee, left knee, right ankle, sleep disorder, and thyroid disorder are all being reviewed.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection in multiple conditions, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right eye macular degeneration, right knee disorder, tinnitus, and left ear hearing loss. The earliest effective date assigned was January 14, 2014.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limited motion and instability, has not met the criteria for a higher rating prior to May 15, 2019. The current evaluation of 20% is appropriate given his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA medical examination and opinion to determine if the Veteran's claimed disabilities are related to his active service, including documented injuries in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further evidence is needed to determine if his current left knee and right hand disorders are related to his military service.

The Veteran's left knee conditions, including degenerative joint disease, meniscal tear, limitation of extension, lateral instability, and patellar instability, are rated based on their respective diagnostic codes. The appeal is denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for increased ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to lack of opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to parachute jumps in service.

The Veteran's initial rating for left total knee replacement residuals from August 4, 2018 to September 2, 2021 was granted at a higher level of 60 percent.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not cooperate with the VA examinations and failed to provide medical records, resulting in a lack of sufficient evidence to decide his claims.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a 20% rating for the period prior to September 29, 2020, and a 60% rating as of November 1, 2021. The decision also addressed his total replacement residuals.

The Veteran's right knee limitation of flexion is rated at 10 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for instability is granted. The higher rating request for limitation of flexion was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence linking his current conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as asthma. The Veteran's right little finger disability is not rated higher than non-compensable.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for all issues related to her service-connected knee and ankle disabilities, as well as her TDIU claim prior to August 31, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for his right and left knee disabilities due to new evidence received since the February 2015 decision. The claims are now pending for further development.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a separate 10 percent rating.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, manifested by chronic sleep impairment and secondary to service-connected left knee conditions, is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether his right knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea are related to his service-connected left knee disability or in-service symptoms. The VA is directed to obtain updated treatment records, provide an addendum opinion from a clinician on both issues, and readjudicate the cases.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete service records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA need to be documented, and updated VA treatment records should be obtained.

The Board has determined that the remand was not adequately addressed in previous examinations and requests an addendum opinion to clarify whether the Veteran's current right knee condition is related to his service, including his reported pain during service.