Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, allergic rhinitis, neck disorder, left shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, low back disorder, left hip disorder, left knee disorder, and left ankle disorder due to a lack of post-service treatment records. The Veteran is requested to submit or authorize VA to obtain any relevant medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left foot conditions on a direct basis.,The Board has also granted service connection for right and left knee conditions on a direct basis.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing their onset during or within one year after service, as well as no causal relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability and left knee disability due to insufficient reasons and bases in the prior VA medical opinions, specifically regarding the Veteran's lay statements about his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, as he has maintained and is capable of maintaining such employment throughout the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right and left hip disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's current hip disabilities are not presumed related to his military service, but a medical opinion is needed to determine if they are otherwise etiologically linked.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination opinions and need for additional development, including obtaining MPRs and STRs.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay reports of in-service symptoms and their relevance to his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of right and left knee osteoarthritis for further development due to inadequate examination in July 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and evidence not being considered in determining whether the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 60 percent for gouty arthritis of the right elbow, bilateral knees, and bilateral ankles has been dismissed due to his withdrawal.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, formerly patellofemoral chondromalacia, prior to August 8, 2022, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of motion sufficient to warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5261.

The Veteran's depressive disorder NOS, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, hemorrhoids, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are all found to be service-connected.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's diagnosed conditions based on their direct relationship to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on his right knee condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions remain unresolved and require further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran requested their withdrawal prior to a Board decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability. The VA needs to obtain a new opinion from an appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's right knee disability rating was reduced from 20 percent to 10 percent, and the appeal for a higher rating is remanded. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders due to a lack of medical records from Dr. Buller, who indicated that the Veteran had been his patient for many years. The Veteran also sought to reopen his claims under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).