Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to issues related to service connection and increased ratings for hypertension and left knee disability. The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10% since September 6, 2005, and his left knee disability remains at a 10% rating from May 31, 2006.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the examination reports and for a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including GERD, left knee condition, right hip strain, thoracolumbar spine, gastric ulcer/gastritis, left talus non-displaced fracture, right ankle tendonitis, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis. The decision also includes a request for new VA examinations for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a complete October 2014 examination report and requesting an opinion on retroactive application of range of motion testing results.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset during or related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to comply with its duty to assist and obtain necessary records, as well as for another VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability but denied service connection for a left knee disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported symptoms and medical examinations, with no evidence of chronic left knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left knee, and right foot conditions due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active-duty service.,The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and right knee conditions as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if they are related to his service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to conflicting diagnoses of psychiatric disorders and the need for additional medical examinations.,PTSD is being remanded as there is a conflict in diagnoses and the need for an examination to determine its relationship to service. Service connection for bipolar disorder, secondary to PTSD, is also being remanded.,Right knee disability claims are being remanded due to conflicting diagnoses of chondromalacia patella syndrome and the need for additional medical examinations.,Right quadriceps tear and left quadriceps tear claims are being remanded as there is a lack of service connection evidence and the need for an examination to determine their relationship to service-connected right knee disability.,,

The Board dismissed the appeals for tinnitus and left knee disability as the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 25, 2014, finding that the Veteran was not unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected disabilities until then.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or secondary to a service-connected left knee condition. The right foot issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted. The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection and rating for his left knee disability due to outstanding records and further examination.

The Board denied service connection for hemorrhoids, claiming bowel obstruction or bleeding, due to the lack of evidence showing a relationship between current symptoms and service. The Veteran's complaints during service were not related to hemorrhoids.,Service connection was also denied for a right knee disability as there is no credible evidence that the condition began in service or is otherwise linked to an injury or disease during service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than what is currently assigned.,For his left knee disability, the Board determined that flexion was limited to at most 65 degrees, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DC 5260.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted a 60 percent evaluation from October 1, 2013 to November 25, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and consideration of the Veteran's statements regarding his knee pain.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain and degenerative arthritis, left knee strain and degenerative arthritis, and right ankle sprain and degenerative arthritis. The evidence is at least as likely as not that these disabilities began during active duty.