Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including depression, knee degenerative joint disease, jaw fracture residuals, sleep apnea, migraines, eczema, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, bilateral ear disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, left ankle disability, and hypertension. The Veteran is asked to provide additional VA clinical documentation for review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran and his spouse have provided lay statements about their experiences with knee pain.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, and he has a current diagnosis of hypertension. The gastrointestinal condition (IBS and GERD) and psychiatric disability are not service connected. Right knee, left knee, right shoulder, low back, and left middle finger conditions remain on appeal.,Further evaluations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's gastrointestinal condition, psychiatric disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DJD and lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at the lowest possible levels, with no higher ratings granted. The right knee patellofemoral syndrome is also rated at the lowest level.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee torn meniscus and repair with early degenerative joint disease, as well as his left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear with instability, due to failure to appear at scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability, left hip disability, and rash are remanded due to the Veteran's failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The Board finds that he has established good cause for missing his scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining new VA opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and lower back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination and treatment records. The case is being returned for a new VA examination, updated medical opinions, and obtaining of additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a low back condition, bilateral knee and foot conditions, left ear hearing loss, an eye condition (dry eye syndrome), a skin condition (psoriasis), a thyroid condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left parapharyngeal space mass, a salivary gland disorder, and bilateral tenosynovitis of the wrists.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are currently pending due to remand orders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran is required to provide an adequate opinion on these matters.

Service connection for PTSD is granted, and secondary service connection for alcohol abuse disorder as secondary to PTSD is also granted.,The effective date of February 25, 2011 for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The claims for bilateral knee disorders are reopened.,Increased ratings for right shoulder disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded. Increased rating for low back disability is also remanded.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disability, left shoulder disability, and neck disability is remanded.

The Board has decided that additional evidence is needed to determine appropriate ratings for the Veteran's left knee disabilities, and these issues are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and consideration, including a new examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability, right wrist disability, and hernia due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for further evaluation due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's joint pain and arthritis are related to his service, specifically fuel exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 60 percent for left knee arthroplasty is denied. The current evaluation of 60 percent has been in effect since September 10, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral knee conditions have been denied. The claim for service connection for a gall bladder condition has been remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The claim for a left knee disability is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding no evidence of such condition in service and noting that his current symptoms began decades after separation from service.,For the residuals of a puncture wound and muscle injury to the left groin, the Veteran was not granted a compensable rating as there is no evidence of painful scarring or other disabling effects.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his claim for sleep apnea and increased ratings for various conditions. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.