Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, type II, residuals of a kidney transplant, coronary artery disease, bilateral retinopathy, and bilateral below the knee amputation due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current pulmonary disability and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim. The Veteran's hemorrhoids are rated under Diagnostic Code 7336, for external or internal hemorrhoids. An additional VA examination is required to assess the current severity of his hemorrhoids. For the gastrointestinal (GI) disability, gastritis, an additional VA examination is required to determine whether the Veteran has a chronic gastrointestinal disability that had its onset during service. For the right knee and cervical spine disabilities, an additional VA examination is required to address whether the Veteran's conditions had their onset during service or are otherwise related to his active duty service. For the right shoulder disability, an additional VA examination is required to address whether the pre-existing right shoulder strain was aggravated by the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis, limitation of flexion is denied as the evidence does not demonstrate limitation of motion meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to address whether his left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability and whether obesity served as an intermediate step in causing or aggravating his left knee disability.

The Board has denied service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral knee, left ankle, and left shoulder disabilities. The case is now being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a left knee disability due to incomplete examination and lack of consideration of relevant evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a new VA examination and opinion regarding his left knee arthritis, as the previous examination was inadequate. The issues include determining if the service-connected right knee total knee replacement caused or aggravated the Veteran's current left knee arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including sleep apnea, shoulder arthritis, hip arthritis, GERD, knee disabilities, eye disabilities, and liver disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, abdominal hysterectomy, mechanical bowel obstruction, and bilateral knee disabilities, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 17, 2022. The Board has granted TDIU on this basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, OCD with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), a right knee disability, tinnitus, and neurological conditions affecting the legs and feet are all granted. The claim for service connection of low back disability is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered her unable to work for the period from September 24, 2009 through January 10, 2010. The VA has ordered additional examinations and remanded several issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims during a Board hearing.,Service connection has been granted for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea (as secondary to hypertension), and glaucoma (as secondary to hypertension).

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus are found to have begun during active service.,Service connection is granted for left ear hearing loss disability and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee limitation of flexion prior to February 14, 2017 is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports and the need for a retrospective medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left knee, right knee, and left ankle disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records from the Veteran's Reserve service period.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including subpatellar chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent for the entire period on appeal. The rating includes a separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his low back disability prior to June 5, 2020, was denied as the evidence did not show limitation of forward flexion to at least 30 degrees or ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is secondary to his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease. Additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion, is required.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and tinnitus, as well as reopened previously denied claims. Service connection is established on a presumptive basis due to the Veteran's reported symptoms since service.