Knee decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his left knee scar, right and left knee medial-lateral instability, and synovitis and osteoarthritis of the right knee with limitation of flexion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for below the left knee amputation, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that the current disability is not related to his service-connected disabilities and medication.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities have been granted.,The Veteran's claim of dental disability (for treatment purposes) has been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records from the Veteran's first period of service at Naval Hospital Cherry Point. The examiner is required to determine if the right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and pain, had its onset during service.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to right knee osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected left knee strain due to inadequate VA etiological opinions and lack of a copy of the examiner's curriculum vitae.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives and the need for clarification regarding changes in diagnostic codes. The issues are related to his service-connected left knee disabilities, including instability and limited extension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ratings greater than 10 percent for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee arthritis and laxity have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as service connected. The back disability, bilateral knee disabilities (right and left knees), and left shoulder disability are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's prostate condition, sleep apnea, carpal tunnel syndrome, left knee disability, shoulder and hip disabilities (claimed as bursitis and tendonitis), psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were not found to be related to service.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the right knee, finding that the Veteran's flexion and extension did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and missing medical records. The Veteran is required to provide additional information about his private treatment records, and VA will attempt to obtain them.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher evaluations for his service-connected left knee conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 5, 2017 due to insufficient evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as of February 19, 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 24, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and right knee instability due to outstanding records and new evidence added to the file.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, upper back condition, left knee condition, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.,There is no evidence of a direct relationship between any of these conditions and military service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's arrhythmia, bruxism, COPD, right hip condition, left hip condition, left knee injury, obesity, traumatic brain injury, and vertigo have not been found to be related to service.,PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in a rating of 70 percent but the Veteran is still considered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.