Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for chronic shin splints.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated based on partial replacement and limited extension. The claims are remanded for additional development to ensure the Veteran receives a sufficient examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for service-connected chondromalacia of the right and left knees due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's range of motion during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination report and needs clarification on whether the Veteran requires prescription for assistive devices for right knee instability. The issues of increased rating for right knee disability and TDIU are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed together.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and medical opinions for service connection of a right knee disability. The issues of increased rating for left knee limitation of motion and separate rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage remain pending.

The Veteran's hypertension and right knee strain with degenerative arthritis are being remanded for further examination and opinion. Her TDIU claim is also remanded to obtain information from her former employers.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate examination and medical opinion regarding his left knee disabilities. The issues include initial ratings for left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, separate disability rating for left knee instability prior to August 6, 2019, and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent from August 6, 2019, to February 6, 2021, and since February 7, 2021, for left knee instability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a right knee disability due to insufficient reasoning in the previous decision and the need for an additional medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral foot conditions, left and right knee disabilities, as well as the issue of TDIU prior to April 24, 2020. The issues are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate statements of reasons or bases in the previous decisions. The issues include determining if the September 2021 VA opinion is adequate and addressing whether increased ratings are warranted based on flare-ups, medication effects, instability, and meniscal tear.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine disorder and left knee disorder, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions neither had their onset in nor are they otherwise related to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's left knee PFS disability was previously rated at 30 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion beginning June 14, 2022. The claim for an initial compensable rating prior to June 14, 2022, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities. The decision denied entitlement to a compensable rating prior to October 29, 2020 and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected TBI beginning October 29, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of August 19, 2013, for the grant of service connection for major depressive disorder is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his major depressive disorder is denied. The symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extraschedular TDIU prior to April 29, 2011, finding that his service-connected disabilities alone did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for consideration of whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted due to his service-connected disabilities prior to March 30, 2010.

The Board denied increased ratings for left and right knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and ankle disorders, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The AOJ is to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's left ankle sprain and left knee strain have been rated under the appropriate VA rating criteria. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.,Service connection for rhabdomyolysis and sleep apnea is also remanded.