Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including blurry vision in his right eye, a left elbow scar, IBS, GERD, bilateral knee and arm conditions, joint and muscle condition, paresthesia (claimed as neuropathy), and balance issues. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is remanded due to the lack of compliance with the June 2022 Board Remand directives regarding an orthopedic examination.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left knee disorder, tinnitus, sleep apnea, and hypertension. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete medical opinions and missing records. The Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities are being reviewed again.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to July 17, 2018 due to a lack of evidence showing that her service-connected disabilities alone rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions. The claims will be reviewed again with additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, back disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical evidence linking his current conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of sleep apnea, right elbow condition, left wrist condition, right knee condition, and lower back injury due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of right and left knee disabilities has been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in the VA examination report and potential applicability of specific criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee synovitis and strain, instability, and symptomatic partial lateral meniscectomy due to issues with range of motion during flare-ups and functional loss. The TDIU and SMC matters are also inextricably intertwined and will be deferred until further development is completed.

The Board has remanded the increased rating claims for bilateral knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with painful motion and instability/subluxation due to a failure to comply with prior instructions in a VA examination report.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left foot, and right foot conditions due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in VA examinations. The issues include left and right knee conditions, gastrointestinal disorder, stomach disorder, gout, and vision loss.

The Veteran's torn meniscus and right knee degenerative joint disease were granted a 20 percent evaluation from July 28, 2015 to August 31, 2020. The rating for the right knee degenerative joint disease was denied as it did not meet criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent based on limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incongruities in the medical opinions and lack of nexus evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The cases are being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding his knee, elbow, fatigue (undiagnosed illness), squamous cell cancer of the skin, and sleep disturbances.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, as his last VA examinations were over 8 years ago and he has submitted evidence suggesting a worsening of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was denied as the evidence did not show limitation of motion more nearly approximating flexion limited to 30 degrees.,Service connection for numbness in arms resulting from bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment was denied because it is a diagnosed condition with fully understood etiology and pathophysiology.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, bilateral knee disability, and respiratory airway disease (COPD).