Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeals for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for his right knee meniscal tear are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, finding no probative evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left knee disability has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew the appeal before any decision was made.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee and left ankle disabilities do not prevent him from finding and maintaining gainful employment, as he has the physical capacity to perform sedentary work.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent or separate compensable ratings for left knee strain is denied. The clinical reports show that the Veteran's left knee flexion and extension are within the limits required for a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's right ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are granted service connection. The case is remanded for further examination regarding a right hip disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of left wrist disorder and right knee disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for determining the severity of the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding no evidence of chronic conditions in service or a relationship to service. The examiner noted that there were no complaints or findings of knee pain during service.

The appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim for HIV. The claims of service connection for neck, low back, right knee, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities have been remanded due to new and material evidence.

The Board dismissed all issues of entitlement to increased ratings for various conditions, as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion. The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee arthritis and Baker's cyst of the right knee are pending.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and major depressive disorder. The left knee PFPS issue is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and conflicting statements about in-service symptoms. The claims will be addressed again with additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from February 1, 2018 to July 27, 2021. The Board granted a TDIU during this period.

The Board has remanded the case due to inaccuracies in the factual record and a need for an updated medical opinion regarding the onset of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has determined that further evaluations are needed for the Veteran's hip, lumbosacral spine, left knee, and tinea corporis disabilities due to incomplete examination reports. The claims of service connection for right and left hip disabilities, increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease, increased ratings for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and instability, and a compensable rating for tinea corporis are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic bronchitis is granted under the PACT Act, which provides presumptive service connection due to exposure to burn pits. The claims for right shoulder and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition, finding that it is aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at a 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion, and a 20 percent rating for instability. The left knee disability is rated at a 40 percent rating for limitation of extension from December 21, 2020. Both knees are currently rated based on their respective conditions without separate ratings.