Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions have been dismissed.,A claim to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability has been granted, and the Veteran is now entitled to service connection for adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, and alcohol abuse disorder.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and left forearm disabilities are related to his active military service.,The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are caused by the Veteran's obesity, which in turn is caused by his service-connected depressive disorder and musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right hip status post replacement, finding that it was caused by his service-connected left foot and ankle degenerative arthritis with loss of use of the left lower extremity below the knee. The decision is based on a private medical opinion from Dr. C.P., who concluded that the Veteran's altered gait due to his left foot and ankle condition accelerated his right hip arthritis, necessitating the need for a total hip replacement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to September 28, 2012. Therefore, the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity conditions due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has found that the VA examinations performed in March 2020 are no longer indicative of the current level of severity of the service-connected spine and left knee disabilities. The Board has therefore ordered a remand for further development, including obtaining updated VA examinations to assess the current severity and manifestations of these disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to July 8, 2022, did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthroplasty and chondroplasty, is rated at 20 percent for limitation of extension from January 30, 2019 to May 14, 2021. The Veteran also has a 20 percent rating for subluxation/lateral instability since February 7, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment prior to August 29, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left knee disability and his service.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left and right knee arthritis due to procedural issues and inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial 70 percent rating for depressive disorder is granted, and the issues of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, left shoulder, headaches, and thoracolumbar spine disability are remanded. The compensable rating for hypertension issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's left elbow condition is not service-connected as it is attributed to his service-connected fibromyalgia.,The Veteran's right knee condition is not service-connected and the Board found no separate diagnosis for this issue.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee meniscal tear was granted, and he is now receiving a separate 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage in the same knee. The current effective date of this decision is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and hypertension have been denied as there is no credible or competent evidence of an in-service injury, disease, or continuity of symptomatology. The Board finds that the Veteran did not suffer any left knee or leg injury during his active service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected residuals of healed left third metatarsal fracture was denied due to his failure to report for a VA examination. The case is remanded for further development and adjudication, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion regarding the right knee disability.

The Veteran's respiratory condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition are remanded for further development and opinion.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal tear is granted a separate evaluation of 20 percent, but no higher. The criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for right knee instability are not met.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no persuasive evidence that it began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it had onset in, or is otherwise related to, active military service and whether it is caused or aggravated by the service-connected disabilities, including chronic pain from his service-connected knee and psychiatric disabilities.,The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and instability are remanded for appropriate examinations to determine their current severity with consideration of functional impairment on employability.,The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and instability are remanded for appropriate examinations to determine their current severity with consideration of functional impairment on employability.,The Veteran's depressive disorder is remanded for an appropriate examination to determine its current severity.,Earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and ratings for the Veteran's left knee disability and depressive disorder are remanded as they may be related to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's earlier effective date claims are inextricably intertwined with the increased rating issues.