Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has withdrawn the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and is remanding the claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as left and right ankle conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, hearing loss, back disability, and knee disabilities rendered him unemployable prior to December 17, 2020. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, effective August 10, 2022. The claim for TDIU is dismissed as the service-connected prostate cancer alone grants a 100% schedular rating and special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating for revision status-post left total knee replacement and a compensable rating for left knee instability, both prior to specific dates. The remand is due to insufficient medical evidence regarding functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's left knee disability was evaluated and found to not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes, resulting in denial of her claims.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder strain, left knee strain, and right knee strain. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service symptoms and their continuity since separation.

The Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities have been granted service connection. A temporary total rating based on the need for convalescence from July 23, 2013 to October 1, 2013 has also been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of bladder cancer. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient nexus opinion, and the claims for right knee condition and left knee strain are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development: PTSD with major depression, bipolar disorder, left knee condition, and kidney condition. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need to verify in-service stressors, clarify whether he has a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder, obtain VA treatment records, and provide an opinion on the relationship between his service and these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as low back and neck disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination for the claimed low back disability and neck disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for knee conditions have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip, right knee, and left knee disorders due to inadequate medical opinions that do not address relevant evidence of prior symptoms. The claims are also remanded to consider a September 2018 private medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected left knee disability, as well as for obtaining updated medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, increased rating for right knee disability, separate rating for right knee limitation extension, and left foot disability have been denied. The Board found no current evidence of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent for limitation of extension, and separate ratings are granted for instability (10%) and partial meniscectomy residuals (10%). The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for a right low back disorder and hypertension.,Service connection for the Veteran's right low back disorder and hypertension remains pending as they are to be considered secondary or aggravated by existing service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to insufficient opinions from VA examiners regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder and renal mass.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or on account of being housebound is denied. The Board found that he does not meet the criteria for SMC at either the aid and attendance rate or the housebound rate.

The Board denied service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder), hypertension, gout, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, lower back DJD, neck disorder with pain and numbness down the hands, and COPD. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that the current VA examinations conducted in May 2018 do not adequately reflect the severity of his disabilities and remanded for further examination.