Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10% for limited motion, and a separate rating of 10% is granted for instability. The left knee meniscus disability is rated at 20%. The Veteran's left knee lateral instability is rated at 10%.,The Veteran receives a separate 10% rating for osteoarthritis of the right knee, and a separate 10% rating for left knee instability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further review due to missing VA medical records, which may contain relevant evidence for evaluating the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for right knee, low back, and right hip conditions related to his service-connected left knee disability are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.,A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee instability and determine if it has caused or aggravated any other conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding his claimed back condition and bilateral knee conditions. The AOJ is required to obtain additional records, notify the Veteran of unavailable records, and schedule examinations to address these issues.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disability may be related to her service-connected right knee disability, but more evidence is needed for a final decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to additional development being needed.

The Board has granted service connection for the aggravation of obstructive sleep apnea by the Veteran's service-connected back and knee conditions. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C and knee disabilities. Additional VA examinations are needed.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities are granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent, but no higher, for the entire appellate period.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including new examinations and medical opinions to address the issues of service connection for various conditions.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for hepatitis C and its secondary conditions, as well as the bilateral knee disability and back/neck disabilities. The TDIU claim is also deferred due to being inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied. The Board found the evidence against a finding that his ED is caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities. For TDIU, the Veteran was granted from April 30, 2014 to present due to combined disability rating of 70 percent and not meeting schedular criteria prior to February 6, 2013.

The Board dismissed the claims for SMC based on aid and attendance due to a full grant of benefits in October 2022. The claim for SMC based on housebound status was denied as the Veteran did not meet the statutory requirement of having a single service-connected disability rated at 100% disabling.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, but has remanded the claims of obstructive sleep apnea and hepatitis C due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for chronic sinusitis was denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right hand disorder were both denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to incomplete evidence from previous examinations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development and adjudication of his claims for increased ratings for service-connected right and left knee disabilities, including limitation of flexion, extension, and instability. Additionally, a TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has remanded the case due to new VA medical records being added to the claims file. The Veteran and his representative have not provided a waiver for initial AOJ consideration of these records.

The Veteran's PTSD with shortness of breath and residuals of TBI is rated at 70 percent, which is the maximum available rating under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has not been shown to warrant a higher than 10 percent rating.