Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left shoulder disabilities, elbow/arm disability, wrist disabilities, knee disabilities with shin splints, low back disability, neuropathy of the lower extremities, cold weather injury residuals, sleep apnea, TBI, and vertigo. The appeals are based on a direct relationship to service without any presumption or secondary connection.

Service connection is granted for PTSD with GAD, sleep impairment as part of PTSD and GAD, right elbow enthesopathy, left ankle gout, and left knee gout. Service connection is denied for gout, claimed as joint pain.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of the right knee as the appellant and his attorney requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for PTSD, TBI, and left knee disorder due to potential errors in the record regarding the Veteran's military service. The AOJ is instructed to search for additional records under a former name and social security number.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to a failure of the Veteran to submit the required VA Form 21-8940. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records from Dr. H.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of various musculoskeletal disabilities and fibromyalgia must be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions provided in prior VA examinations. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as it may significantly impact the outcome of these service connection issues.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and secondary service connection for right knee strain as related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a right knee disability and various hearing loss/tinnitus conditions. The main reason is that there are missing service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and requests that he provide additional medical records. The claims will be reconsidered with the new information.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and anxiety have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his requests to proceed with these issues.,Service connection has been granted for right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right hip disorder, and left knee disorder. The Veteran's obesity is considered an intermediate step between his service-connected back disability and these disorders.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for his service-connected left knee residuals of ACL tear with osteoarthritis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examinations during the appeal period and the need to assess potential functional ankylosis, as well as increased ratings for right knee instability prior to May 30, 2012.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are currently rated as part of his service-connected psychiatric disorder, and he does not have a separate rating for these residuals. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee DJD is currently rated based on limitation of flexion only. He seeks an increased rating for limitation of extension.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion and noncompensable for limitation of extension. The Board denied a higher rating as the evidence did not support such.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. The other service connection claims are denied.,Service connection for atrophied testicle/loss of use of a creative organ, kidney disability, right knee disability, back disability, and right foot disability were all denied.

The Veteran's PTSD and right knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis are currently rated at 50 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The Board has denied increased ratings for both conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders due to additional development being needed, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical records.