Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia, status post complex tear of the lateral meniscus, based on limitation of flexion and extension, or for instability. He also did not meet the criteria for separate ratings for meniscal pathology or instability.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee and lumbar spine disabilities did not preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 1, 2012. Therefore, the Board denied his claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to April 13, 2018.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus claim was dismissed as it had been fully granted in a prior rating decision. The right knee, radiculopathy, and ankle disabilities were denied due to lack of service connection or aggravation by service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right knee conditions due to inadequate VA examinations and the need to obtain additional private treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral foot disability, left toe disability, right toe disability, hip disabilities, and knee disabilities. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay statements of in-service injury and continued symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for various disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, has been reopened. The Board finds that new evidence supports reopening the claim but remands the case to obtain additional records and provide medical opinions on the issues of service connection.

Your claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded because we need to obtain your Social Security Administration records and you have not completed the necessary forms.,Your claims for service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are also being remanded due to incomplete forms. We need you to complete and return VA Forms 21-8940 and 21-4192.,Your TDIU claim is being remanded because we need you to cooperate in obtaining evidence needed to adjudicate your claims, including completing the necessary forms.

Your claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disorders have been fully granted in a September 2020 rating decision, effective December 31, 2012. Your appeals are dismissed as the benefits sought on appeal have already been granted.

The Board has found that further development is necessary and the case is remanded to ensure compliance with prior remand instructions. The Veteran's knee conditions, including left and right knee degenerative arthritis, as well as De Quervain's tenosynovitis of the left wrist, are all on appeal for increased ratings. Additionally, there is a claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a left knee disability, both of which are presumed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently each evaluated as 10 percent disabling for painful motion on flexion. The Board has decided to remand the matter due to incomplete service records and an inaccurate disability picture.

The Board has ordered another remand due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether any left knee disability had its clinical onset during service or is due to an event or incident of the Veteran's period of active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower back, left ankle, and bilateral knee conditions due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran's preexisting conditions are presumed to have existed prior to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as status post surgical repair of the right knee with degenerative joint disease, meniscal tear and right knee anterior cruciate ligament tear, is related to service. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral eye and shoulder disabilities have been withdrawn, resulting in their dismissal. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar back disability, bilateral knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for left knee limitation of motion, associated with degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left knee. The Veteran's flexion is not limited to 30 degrees or less and extension is not limited to more than 0 degrees at any time on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PFS left knee, PFS right knee, and instability of the left knee prior to January 16, 2017, was denied. The Veteran is currently receiving a 10% rating for each condition.

The Board has determined that additional relevant service medical and personnel records have been received, necessitating the reconsideration of multiple claims for various disabilities.