Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right wrist, ankle, knee, hip, left knee, back, sciatica, and psychiatric disorders are all denied as there is no persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a left knee disability and right ankle disability due to incomplete records, including missing inpatient treatment records from Chanute Air Force Base and VA treatment records. The Veteran is also requested to provide information about his SSA benefits.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating and TDIU were denied as he failed to appear at a VA examination without providing good cause.

The Board dismissed the appeals seeking service connection for various conditions including degenerative arthritis of the spine, left knee, hip pain, and right ankle pain and instability due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service-connected due to a chronic condition that began within one year of separation from service. The cases for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for fatty liver disease, left elbow condition, right elbow condition, bilateral knee condition, bilateral ankle condition, arthritis in joints other than knees, ankles, and elbows, and heart condition (CAD).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further evaluation of his knee disabilities due to unclear functional loss and incomplete examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the VA examination reports and the Veteran's reported symptoms of instability.

The Veteran's topical medications stained and damaged his clothing, warranting a clothing allowance for calendar year 2015.,His left knee brace caused wear and tear on his clothing, qualifying him for a clothing allowance for calendar year 2015.,Elbow crutches used by the Veteran due to his left knee disability also caused damage to his clothing, entitling him to a clothing allowance for calendar year 2015.,The right knee brace and back brace were not service-connected disabilities at the time of the decision, thus denying entitlement to a clothing allowance for these items in 2015.,Left ankle brace did not cause damage to his clothing as determined by VA, therefore denial of a clothing allowance for this item in 2015.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been granted a 60 percent rating from June 1, 2018 to November 5, 2020. The right knee disability has also been granted a 60 percent rating since December 1, 2016.,Issues related to the Veteran's left ankle sprain and increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examination and lack of consideration of relevant treatment records. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are being reviewed for direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability and right knee disability due to conflicting medical opinions. The case is returned for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling addendum medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee disability with instability and degenerative arthritis was granted an increased rating of 20 percent prior to October 30, 2020. From that date, the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's use of his VA-issued left knee brace for his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the left knee is causing wear and tear on his clothing, leading to frequent replacements. The Board has granted a clothing allowance for 2013 based on this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation at any point during the appeal period, leading to denial of TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of a right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and hemorrhoids. The Board has also granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected cervical spine degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc syndrome, right knee osteoarthritis, right knee recurrent patellar dislocation and slight instability with right meniscal tear status post arthroscopy, right knee total arthroplasty, and left knee total arthroplasty. The remand is due to the need for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection. The respiratory disability claim is denied, but the low back, right hip, bilateral knee, and right foot disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right knee condition, left ankle condition (including as secondary to service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis), and current severity of his service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis. The claims are being returned for further development.