Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, right foot condition, and increased evaluation for tinnitus were dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection for various knee disabilities, shoulder conditions, and hearing loss are remanded.

The Veteran's right-knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis is rated at 30 percent from January 24, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to incomplete development. The VA is required to obtain medical records, provide a new examination, and complete the necessary forms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle disability is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and the current condition is not related to service.,The claims for secondary service connection for low back and right knee disabilities are denied because the Veteran does not have a currently service-connected primary disability. ,The claim for TDIU is denied as the Veteran has no service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, shoulder, and left wrist disabilities due to new and material evidence. However, these claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the service connection for a back condition and right knee condition.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, specifically requesting that the Veteran provide or authorize VA to obtain relevant treatment records and obtaining an addendum opinion regarding aggravation of hip and knee disabilities by a service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's left foot disability, left knee disability, and psychiatric disability are inadequate. The claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in December 2022 are inadequate and have ordered a new examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and right knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination documentation.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for low back pain, left knee pain, and right knee strain due to incomplete compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, PFB, jungle rot (skin disorder of the feet to include onychomycosis and tinea pedis/athlete's foot), and lichen simplex chronicus (left scalp skin disorder).,There is no credible evidence that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining updated medical records and a retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee disability prior to October 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, and if so, whether this resulted in sleep apnea.

The Board dismissed all claims of service connection and rating appeals due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, as well as the claim for a higher rating for right knee disability. The reasons include the need to clarify the Veteran's foreign service and obtain further VA medical examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as he is currently working full-time and participating in training, with no evidence of his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for his service-connected cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examinations and lack of information on flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for knee and back disabilities due to inadequate prior examinations. A new examination is needed to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions.