Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions, respiratory disorder, and skin disorder due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran's National Guard records have been obtained, but he did not report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for lower back disability, ankle disabilities, knee disabilities, and wrist disabilities. The reasons for remand include the need for additional medical opinions due to insufficient nexus opinions.

The Veteran's right knee total arthroscopy is granted a 60% rating as of December 1, 2013. The lumbar spine disability claim and TDIU prior to April 15, 2014 are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his sinusitis, right knee disability, left knee disability, painful extension of knees, or instability are related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including cervical strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine, right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right and left carpal tunnel syndrome, hypertension, basilar skull fracture, and status post tympanoplasty, are being remanded for further evaluation due to lack of recent VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to incomplete records, insufficient examinations, and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, including Osgood-Schlatter. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various joint disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further evaluation.

The Veteran's right knee strain was denied a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis was denied a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and meniscal tear, status post repair, and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions began during active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development, specifically a need for an adequate secondary service connection opinion addressing causation and aggravation of the Veteran's right knee disability by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated. The claims are remanded for further medical development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the condition existed prior to service and if it was aggravated by service. The Veteran will be afforded a VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional records and an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service-connected due to its onset during active service and aggravation by her service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's asthma is granted as service-connected due to its manifestation within the 10-year presumptive period following separation from active service in Afghanistan.,The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is granted as service-connected due to its onset during active service.,The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is not addressed by VA examination and requires further evaluation.,The Veteran's chronic bilateral ear disorder is not addressed by VA examination and requires further evaluation.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity nerve damage, to include as a result of a service-connected disability, is not addressed by VA examination and requires further evaluation.,The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity nerve damage, to include as a result of a service-connected disability, is not addressed by VA examination and requires further evaluation.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, to include as a result of a service-connected disability, is granted as service-connected due to its aggravation by her major depressive disorder.,The Veteran's chronic headaches are granted as service-connected with an increased rating required based on the frequency and severity of attacks.,The Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis at L5-S1 prior to September 25, 2019 is granted as service-connected with a higher rating required after that date.,The Veteran's cervical spine osteoarthritis prior to September 25, 2019 is granted as service-connected with a higher rating required after that date.,The Veteran's right knee medial compartment osteoarthritis is granted as service-connected with a higher rating required based on the severity of symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected total replacement of the left knee.

The Board has found that there is not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives regarding the claims for service connection for lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities. The appeal for right side numbness, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are all being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear classification of the Veteran's left knee condition as a congenital disease or defect, and requires additional medical opinions on whether it was aggravated by service.