Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the remand was not fully complied with and thus requires another remand to obtain addendum opinions from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's knee disability, its impact on his death-related conditions, and the relationship between his military service and his disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder is reopened, and his rating for left knee injury, status post arthroscopy surgery is restored to 20 percent. However, the reduction in his rating from 20 percent to noncompensable was not supported by material improvement maintained under ordinary conditions of life.

The Board has remanded the claim for entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran's right knee extension was found to be limited to at most 5 degrees, and flexion was to 80 degrees with flare-ups; no instability or subluxation was shown. Bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee and back conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings and service connection due to incomplete development of records, need for additional examinations, and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeals for Crohn's disease, right ankle fracture, and left knee injury were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they have been decided.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress, lumbar spine disability, painful scars of the right knee, hypertension, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disorders due to incomplete development of records and inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board has granted effective dates of November 4, 2010 for the Veteran's entitlement to a TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right knee disorder have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,Service connection has been granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The right knee disorder claim is being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to procedural issues, including a lack of proper form use.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's representative was not provided an opportunity for a hearing prior to the review, but this is not considered prejudicial as they will be given another chance after the development.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee and left hip disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left foot disability, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence supporting this conclusion.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and left and right knee disorders due to incomplete records. The Veteran's Social Security disability benefits records are requested as they may contain relevant information.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need to address the full scope of the Veteran's disabilities and their relationship to her service-connected Graves' Disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment from January 6, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person, leading to a denial of special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is granted service connection. The left and right knee disorders are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and back conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding functional loss during flare-ups or with repeated use over time.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from October 8, 2014 to March 30, 2021 due to his bilateral knee disabilities. The TDIU was denied prior to October 8, 2014.