Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an orthopedic specialist's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran testified about stepping into a hole during service, causing his current knee impairment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right knee and right wrist disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability and nerve pain.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure proper development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for increased disability rating for right knee strain with arthritis and TDIU. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity for a new VA examination, and his claims will be readjudicated after all relevant evidence is considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of whether the Veteran's right knee disability has worsened.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee condition and a 30 percent rating for his left knee instability, effective July 2022.

The Board has not obtained all requested service treatment records and did not document the attempts to locate them. The case is being remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability that meets the VA definition of hearing loss.,The Board finds that additional development is necessary to determine whether the Veteran's right knee and hip conditions are secondary to his left ankle fracture, or if they were aggravated by such condition. The claims are therefore remanded for further action.,Similarly, the Board finds that additional development is necessary to determine whether the Veteran's left hip condition is secondary to his left ankle fracture, or if it was aggravated by such condition. The claims are therefore remanded for further action.,The Board also finds that additional development is necessary to determine whether the Veteran's IBS disability is due to Gulf War Illness. The claims are therefore remanded for further action.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his military service, specifically his time in the Gulf War.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right knee arthroplasty and TDIU are being remanded due to procedural issues. The Board also finds it necessary to investigate the Veteran's consistent reports of right hip symptoms that may be distinguishable from his right knee symptoms, and to schedule a new VA examination to determine this.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and its relationship to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The issues of initial ratings for left and right knee disabilities, and lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral hearing loss disability was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a bilateral hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes and that he could secure and follow substantially gainful employment despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 27, 2013 for a 10% rating for medial meniscal tear of the right knee. The earliest indication of increased disability was on December 27, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and left leg above the knee amputation are being remanded due to incomplete development. The Board requests additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left wrist disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,The Board also found that the Veteran's current left knee and left wrist disabilities are not proximately due to or aggravated by her service-connected right knee and right wrist disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including residuals of traumatic brain injury, left shoulder osteoarthritis, bilateral ankle condition, nephrolithiasis (due to herbicide exposure), bilateral knee osteoarthritis, lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, BLE sciatica, hypertension, and diverticulosis. The Veteran did not have these conditions at the time of service or within one year after discharge.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining retrospective opinions from VA examiners for the periods prior to January 2016 and February 10, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee condition, requiring a new examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in November 2019 are inadequate and requires further examination to determine if the Veteran has a right foot disorder or left knee disorder, as well as their etiology.