Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's left knee disability, right knee disability, and left foot disability have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected low back disability.,Service connection has also been granted for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and Bipolar Disorder) and hypertension. However, these issues are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed headache, IBS, and GERD disabilities. The Board also denied service connection for his left knee, right heel, and right ankle disabilities as secondary to service-connected PTSD, scar of the right ankle, tinnitus, and/or other conditions. No rating was assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 22, 2017. The Board denied the TDIU claims as there was no single service-connected disability (excluding multiple myeloma rated 100%) rendering the Veteran unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 22, 2017.

The Board has denied service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee conditions as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after active service.,Service connection was also denied for a neck condition due to the lack of in-service diagnosis and no link to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions on causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for left knee conditions was denied. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for left knee extension from April 19, 2022 to 10 degrees. The Veteran also received a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right knee disability, left knee disability, and TDIU have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of fracture of the right middle finger is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder and/or TBI are remanded, as well as the determination regarding the character of discharge from February 1978 to January 1981.

The Veteran's ratings for left and right knee degenerative joint disease have been granted, with separate 10% evaluations for instability. The effective date is not specified as the issue was not addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and correctly decide the Veteran's claims for service connection, including a new examination for his left lateral collateral ligament sprain. The issues of service connection have also been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right foot, left foot, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The case is returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's left knee brace caused wear and tear to his clothing in 2014, warranting a clothing allowance for that year.

The Veteran's vertigo is granted as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The initial compensable rating for hemorrhoids prior to April 20, 2019 has been granted. A 10 percent rating is assigned from April 20, 2019 onwards.,An effective date of January 28, 2014, is granted for the 40 percent disability rating for fibromyalgia. The Veteran's right knee disability and sinusitis are denied initial ratings in excess of their current ratings.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is remanded for a new VA examination to determine its etiology, considering his testimony from the January 2022 Board hearing.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis with meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tear, instability, and locking, is now rated at a separate 20 percent for the locking condition effective April 20, 2015.

The Veteran's right ankle, right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities have been granted initial evaluations of 10 percent each. The Veteran's left shoulder disability has also been granted a 20 percent evaluation.,Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome was remanded, while service connection for insomnia related to TBI was denied.

The Veteran's low back condition and various knee conditions have been granted service connection. The left knee rating has been restored to 20%, separate ratings for ankylosis and instability have been granted, and a higher rating for the meniscal condition prior to December 18, 2019 has been granted. However, a higher rating for the left knee status post ACL repair from December 18, 2019 is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, OSA, and diabetes mellitus due to incomplete VA treatment records and lack of adequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, including strain and instability with LCL laxity, are related to his active service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, as well as potential reconsideration of the increased rating claim and TDIU determination.