Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for obesity and weight gain is dismissed.,Service connection for a right knee disability is granted, with the condition being secondary to service-connected left knee disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for a right ankle condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the addition of new medical records since the last decision in February 2021. The Veteran was given an opportunity to have these records considered by the agency of original jurisdiction before the Board's consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions. The VA is directed to obtain additional medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service or any environmental exposures.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 50% from December 16, 2022. The rating was granted as part of a combined rating for both knees.

The reduction in rating for the left knee disorder from 30% to 10% is void ab initio, and a restoration of the 30% rating is granted. Special monthly compensation at the statutory housebound rate effective August 30, 2021 is granted. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are remanded.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from July 24, 2012 to July 9, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The claim is moot as of July 10, 2017 when he received a 100% disability rating for ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on his left shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim, was denied. The decision found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on the severity of his conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, left wrist disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and left shoulder disability due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, and right ankle disorder based on the Veteran's credible statements of in-service injury and subsequent disability.

The Veteran's initial rating for cervical spondylosis is denied as the evidence does not show unfavorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine. The Veteran's left great toe strain and right knee strain are each rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's RLS is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including a lumbar spine condition, right and left knee condition, right and left wrist condition, right and left hip condition, right and left ankle condition, and bilateral pulmonary condition. The Veteran's claims are remanded to schedule him for a VA examination regarding his bilateral plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lower back condition with stenosis, right knee disability, left knee disability, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to inadequate VA examinations.,The appellant contends his disabilities are related to his military occupation specialty (MOS) and his duties in-service. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error as the July 2019 VA examinations for these issues are inadequate.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability due to withdrawal by his attorney. The claim for a higher rating for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain was denied as there is no evidence that warrants a 20 percent evaluation based on current medical findings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a medical opinion regarding the etiology of his claimed disabilities, and because he was exposed to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran is not entitled to presumptive service connection based on exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and left elbow strain with tendonitis. The Veteran's claims are pending further review.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disorder and migraines, finding no current diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left knee condition was denied as the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or extension limited to 15 degrees.,Service connection for bilateral arthritis of the feet was also denied because there is no current diagnosis of arthritis in either foot.

The Board has remanded the cases for new examinations to determine if the Veteran's right and left knee conditions are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not rated higher than 20 percent, left knee condition, bilateral eye condition, and prostate condition are all being reviewed.