Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to new evidence being added to the file. The claims are now remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for right big toe gout and denied service connection for a right knee disability and viral hepatitis. The Veteran was diagnosed with gout during active service, but the right knee disability is considered congenital and not aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of current hepatitis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot disability, plantar fasciitis, right hip strain, left hip strain, right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and cervical spine DDD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 20, 2011. The Board has granted TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability and right knee disability, finding that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether these conditions were caused by service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD is currently rated at 40 percent, and his right knee instability is rated separately at 10 percent. The Board has granted a separate rating for the right knee instability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left hip dysplasia as secondary to her service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that her hip condition was aggravated by her knee condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability and TDIU are remanded due to incomplete medical records. The heart disability claim is also remanded as no SOC has been issued.

The Board has decided to remand the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral ankle disability and left knee disability due to a lack of a secondary service connection opinion. The Veteran's bilateral ankle and left knee disabilities are being examined further to determine if they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings for his bilateral ankle disorders, left knee disorder (limitation of flexion), or painful scar of the left lateral eyebrow.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal disorder, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to incomplete STRs and lack of adequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee limitation of flexion and extension due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is entitled to a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical, thoracolumbar, and bilateral knee conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding his service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for the issuance of a new VA examination and to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The issues include entitlement to higher ratings for his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining records from Parkland Memorial Hospital and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for left lower leg and bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of current disability. The case is remanded for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and right knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for clarification of the severity of his conditions throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's right knee instability has also been remanded, as there is a need for clarification regarding the impact of medication on his range of motion.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the VA examinations and the need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and radiculopathy. The issues of separate ratings for the lumbar spine disability, left and right knee instability, and radiculopathy are being addressed.

The Board denied service connection for both the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.