Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and low back disorder due to incomplete compliance with previous remands, inadequate medical opinions, and missing service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied. Effective dates earlier than July 1, 2006, for the grants of service connection for these disabilities are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral eye disability, cervical spine disability (claimed as cervical strain), lumbar spine disability (claimed as lumbar strain), right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are remanded. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than an insomnia disorder (to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder. The Veteran is required to provide a medical opinion linking her current knee disabilities to service or any incident of service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include PTSD, major depressive disorder, cervical strain, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with thoracic scoliosis, hemorrhoids, left knee strain, tinnitus, painful left foot scar, degenerative joint disease of the left foot with hallux valgus, Crohn's disease status post colectomy, and a right leg condition.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the May 2023 remand directives and thus another remand is required. The examiner must provide an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities had their onset during active service or within one year of separation from active service, considering post-service complaints of joint pain.

The Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disorder, right and left ankle disorders, and right and left knee disorders are remanded due to the need for updated examinations and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee disability prior to April 21, 2023, and entitlement to a TDIU due to the need for retrospective medical opinions regarding range of motion measurements.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for back, neck, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their onset during service.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a right shoulder disability, but has remanded the issues of service connection for cervical spine and bilateral hip disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee chondromalacia, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of flexion. The reduction in the disability evaluation for bilateral calcaneal stress fractures from 30% to 0% was also found to be improper.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizoaffective disorder, right knee condition, left knee condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for each of the conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement and degenerative AC joint disease, right eye disability (retinal disorder, cataracts, blepharitis, dry eye syndrome, macula scars of posterior pole), 4th and 5th left toe stress fracture residuals, and cervical spine disability. Service connection was denied for a right wrist/hand disability and left knee disability.

The Board denied the claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis, finding that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder. The Right Knee Disability issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of GERD. The claim for service connection for residuals of a torn meniscus, right knee remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and a left foot disability (plantar fasciitis and a left heel spur) on the basis of chronic disease presumptive under 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b). The decision is based on evidence showing current diagnoses, an in-service injury, and continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability. The AOJ must obtain additional medical opinions and review outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities resulted in damage to his clothing due to the use of knee braces. The Board granted a 2018 clothing allowance for the use of both left and right knee braces.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. Additionally, the claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status is also being remanded due to inextricability with these other claims.