Knee decisions — 2023

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

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her back disability. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for bilateral knee disability and back disability with associated radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and scar post-spinal surgery are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee osteoarthritis. The case is now remanded to address service connection for a right knee disability secondary to his service-connected left knee joint osteoarthritis.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the statutory duty to assist and remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected right knee disorder.,Specifically, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disorder (limitation of motion) is being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral hamstring and left calf disability, or pain resulting in functional limitation, during or contemporary to the appeal period.,Therefore, the claim for service connection for a bilateral hamstring and left calf disability is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 20 percent rating from March 1, 2016, to January 9, 2018, for partial meniscectomy with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion; flexion better than 45 degrees, extension full.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was dismissed due to withdrawal of the right knee claim, and his cervical spine disability claim was denied. His lumbosacral strain received initial and subsequent rating decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to August 26, 2010. The evidence did not establish that the Veteran's current right knee disability was related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder and remanded the Veteran's claims regarding her right leg shin splints.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee disability, right knee disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and back disability. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to February 18, 2020, was also denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of increased evaluations for bilateral scrotal orchiopexy, right knee limitation of extension prior to July 21, 2022, right knee limitation of flexion, left knee meniscal tear, and left knee arthritis. The TDIU issue is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the above issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left and right knee conditions, as well as his right shoulder condition, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disability. The appeal will be reviewed after additional development.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and a right hip disorder, finding that the Veteran's preexisting right knee disorder clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right and left knee strain have been rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings granted due to the current range of motion findings.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for persistent depressive disorder has been dismissed. The Board has remanded the remaining issues of service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder degenerative arthritis, cervical spine condition, and ankle, knee, foot, thigh, and back conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a new VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities, including left and right patellofemoral syndrome and degenerative joint disease. The remand also requires addressing whether separate ratings under Diagnostic Code 5257 are applicable.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 30% for the period from September 24, 2012 to July 25, 2013. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted due to intermediate degrees of residual weakness and pain.