Knee decisions — 2023

The claims for service connection for a back disorder, right knee disorder, and pes planus are reopened.,The claim for service connection for a right ankle disorder is denied.,The claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated based on instability, limitation of flexion, and limitation of extension. The Board has remanded the case for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain, including low back, bilateral hips, bilateral knees, and right wrist, is being reviewed.

Your claims for service connection related to back disorder, right knee disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) have been remanded. The Board found that the evidence is insufficient to establish a direct relationship between these conditions and your active-duty service.,The Veteran's hypertension and headaches were reopened based on new evidence showing potential links to his PTSD.

The Veteran's left knee instability is currently rated at 10 percent from July 20, 2020, to August 29, 2023. The rating for painful motion of the left knee (limited flexion) and limited extension remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and neck conditions due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the right knee disorder claim due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions have been dismissed.,A claim to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability has been granted, and the Veteran is now entitled to service connection for adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and alcohol abuse disorder.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and left forearm disabilities are related to his active military service.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are caused by the Veteran's obesity, which in turn is caused by his service-connected depressive disorder and musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right hip status post replacement, finding that it was caused by his service-connected left foot and ankle degenerative arthritis with loss of use of the left lower extremity below the knee. The decision is based on a private medical opinion from Dr. C.P., who concluded that the Veteran's altered gait due to his left foot and ankle condition accelerated his right hip arthritis, necessitating the need for a total hip replacement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to September 28, 2012. Therefore, the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity conditions due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has found that the VA examinations performed in March 2020 are no longer indicative of the current level of severity of the service-connected spine and left knee disabilities. The Board has therefore ordered a remand for further development, including obtaining updated VA examinations to assess the current severity and manifestations of these disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to July 8, 2022, did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthroplasty and chondroplasty, is rated at 20 percent for limitation of extension from January 30, 2019 to May 14, 2021. The Veteran also has a 20 percent rating for subluxation/lateral instability since February 7, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment prior to August 29, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left knee disability and his service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left and right knee arthritis due to procedural issues and inadequate medical opinions.