Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various wrist, knee, and neck disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. His claim for an initial compensable rating for tinea pedis is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral tinnitus, lower back condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, shin splints of the left leg, and shin splints of the right leg have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support these claims.,There is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's intermittent loose stools are related to service or an undiagnosed illness. The right knee disability remains under review with respect to potential CUE in the initial rating decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and service connection have been granted. The reduction of the disability evaluation for instability of the right and left knees has been reversed, restoring the original ratings.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected right ankle and bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Board requires new examinations that comply with the requirements of Correia v. McDonald, including testing passive range of motion and providing opinions on additional functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a duty to assist error in the November 2019 VA examination report. The examiner did not address whether the pes planus aggravated the knee disabilities, nor did they consider the Veteran's theories of entitlement regarding in-service onset or aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left and right knee strain has been withdrawn.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including as secondary to service-connected low back disability, is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and migraine headaches as there is no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's cervical strain, right knee Osgood-Schlatter disease, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), and hypertension have been granted service connection.,Service connection for the Veteran's right knee Osgood-Schlatter disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee limitation of flexion and instability were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is related to an in-service injury and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for headaches, lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, and left knee disability due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee condition and remanded the claim for bilateral eye condition.

The Board has granted increased ratings of 60 percent for left and right knee replacements, finding that the Veteran's unsteady gait, chronic pain, weakness, swelling, and fatigue constitute 'severe painful motion or weakness' as required by Diagnostic Code 5055.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is in need of personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months due to his medical conditions, including Type II Diabetes Mellitus and below-knee amputation. The PCAFC eligibility determination must be reconsidered based on whether participation would be in the Veteran's best interest.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate prior to July 19, 2021 was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated at 100% or a TDIU due solely to a single disability and additional service-connected disability ratable at 60%, separate and distinct from the 100% service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right ankle, left knee, and right knee conditions. The claim for neck condition is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to a duty to assist error in providing the Veteran with a VA examination prior to the January 2019 RAMP rating decision.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including hypertension, neck disability, right shoulder and left shoulder disabilities, right knee and left knee disabilities, prostate disability, bilateral hand numbness, headache disorder, and respiratory disability. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were not shown to be aggravated by service or otherwise related to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right knee disorders, finding that they are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.