Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability due to lack of evidence supporting such a claim.

The appeal for higher ratings for left ankle strain with degenerative arthritis; left knee degenerative arthritis; right ankle strain; right knee degenerative arthritis; and acne of the face, neck, and chest is dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for gout and hallux valgus, left foot.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to address right knee instability during specific periods of time.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, and the Board has dismissed them.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and the need for additional assessments of the Veteran's right knee disability during specific examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension and erectile dysfunction have been granted. Increased ratings for bilateral knee limitations of flexion are also granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent prior to April 21, 2022 and denied for a higher rating thereafter. The effective date of the increased ratings for the knees remains pending.,Issues related to left shoulder disability, left knee replacement, and left knee instability are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the service-connected left knee dislocated semilunar cartilage prior to August 7, 2015. The Veteran's other issues related to degenerative arthritis and instability were denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, and the Board finds that an extraschedular TDIU is not warranted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's bilateral eye condition resulting from Hepatitis C exposure is not service-connected. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for left wrist and left knee conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome and strain, all of which are related to the Veteran's combat service.

The Veteran's right knee condition is rated at the maximum schedular rating, while his left total knee replacement received a temporary 60 percent rating from July 1, 2014 to May 28, 2015. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service-connected due to exposure during the Persian Gulf War. The right elbow strain, thoracolumbar spine and sacroiliac joint arthritis, right knee strain, left knee strain, PTSD, left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, right ankle strain, and left ankle strain are all granted with appropriate ratings. Service connection for chest condition with pain and palpitations is denied. Service connection for left hand spasm and right hand spasm is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to a timely Notice of Disagreement filed by the Veteran, and will now address service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a bilateral knee condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to procedural errors in recognizing the Veteran's VA Form 10182 and placing his appeal on the AMA Hearing Lane. The Veteran's appeal should be restored under the legacy system, and procedurally, is in an appellate posture where the Veteran is awaiting issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) that readjudicates all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected total left knee replacement is granted with a rating of 60 percent effective April 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee is being remanded due to outstanding SSA records.