Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, but his flexion has been limited to at most 30 degrees since September 7, 2022. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted and remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for knee disabilities and scars are granted. The Board finds additional development is needed to address the Veteran's shin splints.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the disability ratings for left and right knee degenerative joint disease, so these issues are dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and restrictive lung disease, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are presumptively related to his in-service exposure to burn pits. The low back disorder and bilateral knee disorder claims have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to failure of the Veteran to attend scheduled VA examinations. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied extensions of temporary total ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for postoperative residuals such as immobilization or use of assistive devices.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 25, 2012, and as of September 22, 2016. The Board granted the TDIU during this period.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral knee disability. Service connection is denied for hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 14, 2017 was denied as he had substantial and gainful employment. The Board remanded the case due to a potential issue with service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board denied a higher rating, finding that the evidence did not support additional loss of range of motion or instability warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome disabilities due to ambiguity in the 2017 VA examination and the possibility of worsened disability picture based on recent outpatient treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and a need for further development of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal involves the rating of his service-connected right knee disability and femoral neuropathy. The Board has determined that further development is needed to clarify the nature and severity of these disabilities, particularly in relation to their overlap with other conditions.

The Board has ordered additional development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for anemia, right and left knee disabilities, a disability manifested by chest pain, to include restrictive lung disease, sternal costochondritis and asthma, and kidney disability. The issues are remanded due to incomplete or conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for additional disabilities caused by neurotoxic exposure is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims. The Board grants service connection for sleep apnea and denies service connection for insomnia (as separate from PTSD).,The Veteran's back disability, right knee disability, and muscle spasms of the right thigh and low back are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the cases of right hip, right knee, and low back disabilities for further development due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in its decision, specifically regarding the lack of a retrospective opinion on the Veteran's left knee disability prior to June 20, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records related to a total knee replacement procedure and determining the Veteran's correct amount of SMC payments.

The Board has denied service connection for a lower back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, head laceration (also claimed as head trauma), and headaches. The reasons provided include the lack of evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,Service records do not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during active duty. The Veteran's current symptoms are attributed to various incidents outside of his military service, such as motor vehicle accidents.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for headaches, GERD, IBS, pterygium, right and left knee disabilities, and right and left shoulder disabilities. The appeal is dismissed as a result.