Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder was denied as the increase in disability did not occur within one year prior to September 20, 2016.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating of migraine headaches was denied as the increase in disability did not occur within one year prior to September 20, 2016.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating of left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain was denied as the increase in disability did not occur within one year prior to September 27, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating of left knee strain was denied as the increase in disability did not occur within one year prior to November 5, 2020.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating of right knee strain was denied as the increase in disability did not occur within one year prior to November 5, 2020.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating of cervical strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) was denied as the increase in disability did not occur within one year prior to September 27, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating of right upper extremity radiculopathy was denied as the increase in disability did not occur within one year prior to September 27, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating of left upper extremity radiculopathy of the left upper extremity was denied as the increase in disability did not occur within one year prior to November 21, 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the appellant's current left knee condition is related to her service, including a June 2003 injury during basic training. The Board also requested clarification of the specific dates and character of the appellant's service in ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA.

The Board has restored a 20 percent evaluation for right knee instability, effective April 28, 2013. The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for right knee limitation of motion was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to incomplete range of motion measurements and other issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected hypertension, right knee disability prior to May 27, 2016, and sacral disorder are remanded due to the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, and hemorrhoids conditions are granted service connection. The Veteran's left leg and right leg conditions are remanded for further examination.

The claim for diabetes mellitus type II due to herbicide exposure was denied as the Veteran did not serve in or near the Korean DMZ during the relevant period. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability are all remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right knee strain is remanded due to the need for a new examination addressing his reported flare-ups, which were not adequately addressed in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability was not caused or aggravated by her service-connected right knee disorder.,The Board has remanded the issue of whether the Veteran's service-connected allergic rhinitis aggravates her diagnosed asthma.

The Veteran's claim for right foot plantar warts is denied. The Board finds that the current record does not support a diagnosis of plantar warts as a current disability during the appeal period.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a heart disability was denied as new and material evidence was not received.,Service connection for a right lower extremity muscle disability was denied due to lack of diagnosed condition.,An increased rating in excess of 10 percent for hemorrhoids was denied as there is no evidence of persistent bleeding or anemia.,A compensable rating for the service-connected surgical scar, right knee, was denied as there are no disabling effects not considered under Diagnostic Codes 7800-04.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's lumbar and bilateral knee disorders. The claims are related back to service, but the VA examiners did not provide sufficient rationale in their opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a heart condition and respiratory disability (claimed as asthma), are granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for a heart condition and respiratory disability.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at the maximum available rating of 10 percent each. The low back disability has also been rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent. No higher ratings are warranted for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee condition is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for a right knee condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral leg/knee pain. The evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for multiple myeloma was denied as the condition is asymptomatic.,Claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and cervical spine disorder based on CUE were also denied.

The Board has decided to remand two claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of adequate medical opinions and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that a remand is required to correct an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to her in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.