Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disability was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, including due to a fall in November or December 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease, right ankle sprain, right wrist sprain, left lower extremity varicose veins, lumbar spine condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and tension headaches.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for another VA examination and a retrospective opinion on the severity of the Veteran's knee conditions.

The Board denied service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has found that the Veteran's left knee and left ankle disabilities have continued to worsen since their last examination in June 2018. The case is being remanded for further evaluations and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee, right knee, and bilateral foot disabilities as well as his claim for service connection for gout due to lack of current VA treatment records and uncompleted examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, CFS, sleep apnea, stroke residuals, lumbar spine disability, rib fractures with left hemithorax pain, arm and hand muscle/joint pain, tremors of hands, weakness and coordination issues of legs, and a left knee disability. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions regarding exposure to burn pits during service.

The Board denied service connection for a right wrist disability, neck disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability. Service connection was granted for ingrown toenails of both feet.,Service connection was not established for the Veteran's claimed conditions due to lack of evidence demonstrating current disabilities or a link between his military service and these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's service records and the need to obtain relevant medical records, including SSA disability benefits records and private treatment records. The effective date claim remains pending.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated as analogous to traumatic arthritis under Diagnostic Code 5010. The ratings for the right and left knees are denied, but separate evaluations of 10% each for instability are granted.

The Board has reopened the previously denied service connection claims for left foot, cervical spine, and left knee disorders due to new and material evidence. The cases are being remanded for further evaluations.

The Veteran's back, left and right hip, and left and right knee conditions are granted service connection. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder has been reopened, and the case is remanded for further development. The left knee posttraumatic degenerative arthritis evaluation is also being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hernia, status post repair, a surgical scar associated with the hernia repair, left knee disorder, right hand disorder, and left hand disorder. The Board found that there is no evidence of a significant injury or condition during service that would cause these conditions more than 20 years after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disability and TDIU due to unclear representation and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's representative needs clarification on whether his spouse can act as a VA representative, and additional private medical records are needed.

The Veteran's sinusitis is granted service connection due to exposure to burn pits during service. The appeal for the initial rating of TBI with PTSD is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. Service connection for right knee and low back disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the current condition did not manifest during or within one year after service and is not otherwise related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder, thoracolumbar spine sprain with degenerative changes, and bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left knee disability was dismissed due to his death, as the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.