Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the failure to properly notify him of scheduled VA examinations. The Board will determine whether he was notified at his correct address and if there were any issues with the delivery.

The rating reductions from 70 percent to 50 percent effective August 1, 2017, for PTSD and from 30 percent to 10 percent effective August 1, 2017, for bilateral knee disabilities were proper based on sustained improvement in these conditions.,Issues related to service connection have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorders, lumbar spine disorder, and respiratory disorder. The cases are remanded for further development including obtaining VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome effective October 24, 2016.,The Veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for limitation of left knee flexion effective April 9, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand requests. The Veteran's claim is being returned for further development, including obtaining a medical examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hip and knee disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral dysfunction, service connection for hypertension, left knee disability, psychiatric disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and left ear hearing loss are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded as the examiner did not address whether in-service elevated blood pressure readings could have been an early manifestation of later diagnosed hypertension.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is remanded because the VA examiner did not consider objective signs and symptoms of his left knee complaints, including a history of left knee sprain from employee health clinic records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded as the VA examiner did not address the Veteran's VA treatment records which show treatment for adjustment disorder, depression, and anxiety during the period on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded due to incomplete medical records from his private podiatrist being sought.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded as VA treatment records are needed to determine if an audiogram conducted by the Veteran's private physician, Dr. N.A.O., around April 2010 exists.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches from September 22, 2014 is remanded as updated employment records are needed to determine missed time due to migraines and the Social Security Administration records have not been obtained.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as his July 2020 Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability raised this issue.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided for each condition were inadequate and remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's service records contain numerous complaints of ankle, knee, and foot pain. She underwent VA examinations in July 2020 where diagnoses of bilateral tibia stress fracture, bilateral ankle strain, and bilateral plantar fasciitis were found.

The Veteran's service-connected surgical scars, bilateral knees, have been rated as noncompensably disabling since July 3, 1996. The Board found no basis to assign a compensable rating at any point from July 3, 1996, forward.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability, low back disability, and neuropathy of the lower extremities are related to his military service. The Board has granted service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to address issues and VA representative withdrawal. The Veteran's cervical spine strain, left knee disability, right knee disability, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral pes planus, and vitamin D deficiency are all being reviewed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no medical evidence linking his current right knee disability to service.

The Veteran's claims for right and left knee disabilities, as well as right ankle and hip disabilities have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,Service connection has been granted for right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthralgia and left knee arthralgia, but has remanded the issue of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not support a rating higher than 30 percent for either knee disability, effective May 1, 2016, for the left knee, or August 1, 2020, for the right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee and ankle disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's right ankle disability, and for insomnia as aggravated by his tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU was granted, with the reduction in rating from 20% to 10% for left knee instability being found improper. The Veteran is now entitled to a 30% evaluation for his service-connected left knee disability throughout the period on appeal.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with limitation during flexion and extension, as well as instability, are granted. The rating of 20% is effective from November 19, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay testimony regarding the onset of his symptoms.