Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in the findings of a prior VA examination. A new VA examination is needed for the right knee.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA treatment records related to the Veteran's right shoulder, right foot, right wrist, right knee, back, and hearing loss disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities and for service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart condition, and stroke residuals are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. Service connection is also granted for his back disability. The claim for service connection of hemorrhoids was remanded.

The Veteran's right knee limitation of motion was not found to be severe enough for a higher rating, as it did not meet the criteria for flexion limited to 30 degrees or more.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, bilateral knee condition (to include arthritis), bilateral hearing loss, and psychiatric condition due to a lack of service records and incomplete information regarding the Veteran's reported stressor.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating for left knee condition, right knee condition, lumbar myofascial strain, asthma, and status post left heel laceration residuals, including scar. Additional development is required to obtain private medical records and provide a VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee instability has not been shown to be greater than moderate in degree, and he is currently receiving a 20 percent rating for this condition. The appeal was denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for arthritis, lumbar spine arthritis, right knee arthritis, tinnitus, and hearing loss of the right ear. The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities, as well as service connection for left knee instability, osteoarthritis right knee, osteoarthritis left knee, and right knee instability. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities other than panic disorder was denied. The Board found that the Veteran is not unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities other than her panic disorder.

The Veteran's sinusitis has been rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's chondromalacia of the patella of the right knee has been rated at 10 percent, reflecting painful motion and limitation in flexion.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right shoulder conditions, as well as his bilateral knee conditions. The conditions are considered to have had their onset during active service.,No specific rating or effective date was assigned in this decision.

The Board has remanded multiple issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates, including bilateral hearing loss, collar bone disabilities, hip disabilities, shoulder impingement syndrome, knee conditions, ankle sprains, foot contusions, and elbow scars.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding secondary service connection for right knee disability, which may be related to left knee condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals were improperly placed on the AMA Hearing Docket and should be re-docketed under the Legacy system. The Veteran is advised to file a VA Form 9 if he wishes to continue his appeal.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities and TDIU has been withdrawn. The Board dismissed the appeals as the Veteran withdrew his claims.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss are granted as service connected.,The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are granted as directly related to his military service. The issues of blood clots in bilateral legs and obstructive sleep apnea have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing from appeal.