Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip condition, bilateral knee condition, osteoarthritis and bilateral shoulder condition due to insufficient discussion of the McLendon criteria in previous decisions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his ratings for right knee disability and non-cancerous fatty tumors with residual scars and dermatophytosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran's left knee disability is being reviewed for its onset during service or as a result of service.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for right leg/knee and lumbar spine disabilities, as the current conditions are not related to his active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability, status post replacement, on an aggravation basis and right knee arthritis. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of right and left knee disabilities has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he passed away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their passing away before a decision could be made. The Board currently has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected as it is related to his military noise exposure.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding its onset during service and post-service treatment history.,Service connection for rhinorrhea (rhinitis) is remanded due to the need for clarification on pre-service presence of the condition and in-service reports.,Service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its onset during service and post-service treatment history.,Service connection for right lower extremity sciatica is remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding its onset during service and post-service treatment history.,Service connection for left hip disability (gluteal muscle strain) is remanded due to the need for clarification on pre-service presence of the condition and in-service reports.,Service connection for left leg pain (muscle cramping) is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its onset during service and post-service treatment history.,Service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis is remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding its onset during service and post-service treatment history.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, finding that the evidence does not show a link between the condition and service. The Board also denied service connection for a Right Knee Disorder, concluding there is no evidence showing it was incurred in-service or related to service-connected left ankle and left knee disabilities.,The Veteran's claims were based on his belief that his current conditions are linked to his military service, but the Board found insufficient medical evidence supporting these assertions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate October 2017 VA examination, and a new addendum opinion is needed.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for a left knee disability and service connection for erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection for ocular migraines is being remanded as there are open medical questions regarding its etiology. The Veteran needs to provide private treatment records or be provided an opportunity to submit them.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a mental disorder, manifested by memory loss, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his claimed exposure to asbestos and lead.

The Board has remanded the claims for further review due to new evidence added by VA.

The Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty is rated at the maximum available rating. The initial disability ratings for left knee instability and arthritis are granted, with a TDIU and SMC also being granted.

The Veteran's combined rating is already at 100%, but the Board found insufficient evidence to support a TDIU based on any single service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to procedural issues and need for new VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to a missed VA examination and failure to obtain a retrospective estimate of functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent prior to August 26, 2022 and 70 percent therefrom. The Board denied staged ratings in excess of these percentages.,The Veteran does not have a current right or left ankle disability as no such conditions were diagnosed by VA examiners or other medical providers during the appeal period.,Regarding his left knee disability, the Veteran has provided competent signs and symptoms of a current disability. The Board found that his in-service activities are consistent with his service.

Service connection for GERD is granted.,The Veteran's right knee scar is not entitled to a compensable rating as there is no evidence of deep, unstable, or painful scars exceeding 144 square inches.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient examination reports and the need for additional assessments of his back disability and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for myasthenia gravis and left knee disability, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or any presumptive conditions.