Knee decisions — 2023

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a genitourinary disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to military service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder, is related to service. The cervical spine, hip, knee, vertigo, and hypertension disabilities are also remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals for further development due to incomplete examinations and inconsistencies in the medical evidence. The appeals include claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, as well as a claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, IBS, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The VA will schedule examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate for rating purposes and has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including right knee and bilateral hip disabilities, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claim for left wrist disability is reopened but denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 9, 2017.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension is dismissed as the claim has been fully granted. The appeals for service connection for glaucoma and left knee condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues related to increased disability ratings for right knee disabilities due to incomplete VA examination in June 2022. A new VA examination is needed to assess current severity and functional impairment of the right knee.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, as prior examinations have been inconsistent in assessing its nature.

The Board has denied service connection for various knee, back, neck, shoulder, and foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for flat feet, right knee disability (including as secondary to service-connected left knee osteoarthritis), and back disability due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and service.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran's current disabilities are not shown to have originated during service or be related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability. The claims for right foot, left shoulder, lower back, and left foot conditions are remanded as there is insufficient evaluation in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, neurological disorder (claimed as nerve damage), and right knee disorder due to new evidence received since the final denial in June 1997.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right total knee arthroplasty with scar was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of range of motion that would permit a higher evaluation.,Service connection for Meniere's disease, lung neoplasm with surgery and residuals, and vocal damage were all denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions being related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain status post arthroscopic surgery (limitation of flexion) and limitation of extension due to persistent painful symptomatology that inhibits his ability to stand or sit for even short periods of time. The case is being referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of bilateral ankles, chronic degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with bulging disc, and osteoarthritis of bilateral knees. The decision is based on evidence in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service rheumatic fever.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature of his service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for cold weather injury residuals of the bilateral hands is denied.,Compensable initial ratings for right and left shin splints are denied.,Service connection for residuals of an injury to the tailbone, neck disability, left shoulder disability, back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right foot plantar fasciitis, insomnia, and vertigo is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for minimal patellar spur of the left knee, limitation of extension and a rating in excess of 10 percent for minimal patellar spur of the left knee, limitation of flexion due to inconsistencies in previous examinations.