Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection of his right knee, left knee, and back disabilities to include DJD are granted. The claim for temporary total evaluation (TTE) based on surgery for the service-connected right knee requiring convalescence is also remanded.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is considered secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.,The Veteran's right foot Charcot foot disability is also considered secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to service connection and increased ratings for various conditions. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of Reserve service dates and types, obtaining complete medical records, and providing opinions on secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from December 1, 2015 to July 26, 2018. Therefore, entitlement to TDIU for this period is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable rating criteria, with a separate rating for painful extension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellar tendonitis should be remanded due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress and generalized anxiety disorder is granted a 70 percent evaluation, effective from the date of this decision.

New and relevant evidence has been received, readjudicating the previously denied claims for service connection for right and left shoulder arthritis and right and left knee replacements.,New and relevant evidence has been received, readjudicating the previously denied claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of the Veteran's left thigh disability, which is claimed as left hip bursitis. The effective date for the right knee instability and subluxation rating remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a lower back disability, PTSD, and left knee disability due to incomplete service treatment records. The VA will attempt to obtain these records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asthma, hand disabilities, knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, and migraines due to inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to verify all periods of active service, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA and associate any outstanding records with the claims file. Addendum VA examinations are required to address the etiology of the Veteran's asthma, hand, knee, ankle, and migraine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, tinnitus, low back pain and dysfunction, right knee pain and dysfunction, and depressive disorder due to another medical condition. The Veteran's claims are being returned for further development.

Service connection is granted for prostate cancer and hypertension associated with herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act.,The Veteran's service in Korea from June 1968 to January 1969 was presumed due to his exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain has been withdrawn and dismissed.,Service connection for lumbosacral strain and IVDS is denied due to lack of evidence showing a direct or secondary relationship to service.

The Veteran's right and left thumb disabilities, as well as their corresponding wrist disabilities, are not service-connected.,For the right knee disability, a rating of 10 percent is granted. For the left knee strain, a rating of 10 percent is also granted.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as for a cervical spine disability. The claim for an increased rating to 50 percent for PTSD and depression is also remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for status post right hip replacement, lumbar spine DDD, and status post right knee total replacement. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the left knee condition, bilateral tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's asthma is currently rated at 60 percent disabling. The claims for service connection of a lumbar spine disorder and right knee disorder are being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.