Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, left eye disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right foot disability, and right ankle disability. The Veteran's disabilities are found to be related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for left elbow olecranon bursitis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right hip acetabular impingement syndrome with limitation of extension, flexion, and adduction, and left hip acetabular impingement syndrome with limitation of extension, flexion, rotation, and adduction.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability. Service connection was denied for right knee disability and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial compensable rating for right shoulder scars and left knee scar, as well as service connection for a bilateral eye disability due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran needs to be afforded VA examinations to determine the current severity of his disabilities and their etiology.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for right shoulder condition (dominant) and left shoulder condition (non-dominant), claimed as bilateral shoulder conditions, were denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for right knee condition, claimed as bilateral knee condition, was also denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,Service connection for mouth condition with gum issues was denied because the Veteran did not have a current compensable dental or oral disability.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for right shoulder condition (dominant) and left shoulder condition (non-dominant), claimed as bilateral shoulder conditions, were denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for right knee condition, claimed as bilateral knee condition, was also denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and right knee condition were denied due to the lack of new and relevant evidence.,Service connection for mouth condition with gum issues was also denied as there is no legal entitlement to compensation benefits predicated upon service connection.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for right shoulder condition (dominant) and left shoulder condition (non-dominant), claimed as bilateral shoulder conditions, were denied because the evidence submitted was not new and relevant.,The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for right knee condition, claimed as bilateral knee condition, was also denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for right shoulder condition (dominant) and left shoulder condition (non-dominant), claimed as bilateral shoulder conditions, were denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for right knee condition, claimed as bilateral knee condition, was also denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,Service connection for mouth condition with gum issues was denied because the Veteran did not have a current compensable dental or oral disability.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and right knee condition were denied due to the lack of new and relevant evidence.,Service connection for mouth condition with gum issues was also denied as there is no legal entitlement to compensation benefits predicated upon service connection.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for neck, back, right knee, and right foot disabilities due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee strain was granted with a rating of 10 percent effective March 5, 2019. The appeal to change the basis for this grant is dismissed.

The Veteran's left foot plantar fasciitis and right knee tendonitis are granted service connection. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for entitlement to service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease, as it is unclear whether the condition is related to service or secondary to a service-connected right knee disability. The case will be reviewed with an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted effective October 24, 2013 due to his service-connected PTSD and related disabilities. The right knee and spine conditions are rated at 20% each.

The Veteran's prostatitis was denied a compensable rating prior to August 11, 2020.,Service connection for the right knee disorder was also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc disease is granted as service connected. The right knee disability receives a 30% rating for limitation of flexion and a 40% rating for limitation of extension. The right ankle osteoarthritis, status post fracture, receives a 20% rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the rating of 40 percent for TBI with anxiety disorder is denied. The Board found that no earlier effective date was warranted as the first showing of the need for a combined rating was on the VA TBI examination conducted May 10, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to errors in developing evidence prior to the initial decisions. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new examinations and additional information.