Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's left hip disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right hip trochanteris pain syndrome.,Right hip trochanteris pain syndrome has been granted increased ratings for limitation of extension, flexion, and abduction.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right shoulder conditions, back condition, neck condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his military service.,Service connection is also denied for a bilateral hand condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to exposure to herbicides, but denied service connection for skeletal arthritis involving the bilateral shoulders, knees and back, as well as right ear hearing loss. The case is remanded for further action on the issue of erectile dysfunction.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records are needed, and a new examination is required for the Veteran's right knee condition. The claims of increased ratings for stroke residuals and entitlement to effective dates prior to January 1, 2016, for TDIU and DEA under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and service connection for sleep apnea are remanded. The SMC claim is also remanded due to the Veteran's reported loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain. Service connection for intestinal condition (diverticulitis) is also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further development.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 3, 2012 for the grant of Total Disability Rating Due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The appeal is remanded to determine if earlier effective dates are warranted.

The Board denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including instability.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each for painful motion, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence showing limitation of flexion or extension beyond what is contemplated by the current ratings.,Both knees are currently rated based on painful motion alone under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5260.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and left knee limited extension due to insufficient information in the VA examination report.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to a failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) in the initial rating decisions. The Veteran must be provided with an SOC addressing whether new and material evidence has been received sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, a respiratory disorder, and a scar of the right arm due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran is entitled to presumptive service connection under the PACT Act for any respiratory condition listed in 38 U.S.C. § 1120(b).

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for her right knee tibia stress fracture disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection claims and increased rating claims for his bilateral knee disabilities, frequent migraines, right heel tendonitis with pain, left heel tendonitis with pain, and right elbow disability.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 31, 2021 due to incomplete development. The issues are inextricably intertwined with other pending claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain relevant VA treatment records and to provide the Veteran with a psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 100% rating from November 16, 2016 to the present. Service connection for cervical spine disorder and undiagnosed illness or MUCMI manifested by joint pain are denied. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee degenerative arthritis, meniscal tear is being remanded due to the lack of a recent VA examination. The examiner will assess the current severity and provide information on whether a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further evaluation due to worsening of his shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as thoracolumbar strain. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.