Knee decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied. Service connection was granted for PVD of the RLE and LLE as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination and medical opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are related to his active-duty service, including an in-service motorcycle accident. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's left and right knee osteoarthritis, limitation of extension, are granted at a 50% rating. Separate ratings of 10% for each knee for limitation of flexion and 10% for instability are also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee and right shoulder disability due to conflicting medical evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee pain, left knee strain, and atrial fibrillation and coronary artery disease have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from October 1, 2015 until November 18, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia, arthritis, and meniscus tear status post-surgical repair are rated at 20 percent. The Veteran is granted a separate disability rating of 20 percent for his right knee cartilage dislocated with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain, and effusion into the joint.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his service-connected left knee disabilities and scars.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence does not meet the criteria for a 'disability due to impaired hearing' as defined by VA regulations. The Board also found no causal link between the current left knee condition and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for SMC based on loss of use of the lower extremities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for SMC under either § 1114(l) or § 1114(m).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient development and compliance with prior remand instructions.

Service connection granted for a skin disorder other than psoriasis and skin cancer, but denied for left knee, right knee, bilateral ear, and sinus disorders. Service connection is also denied for skin cancer and left hip disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been granted service connection, but a higher rating is denied.,Effective dates for the awards of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not earlier than February 24, 2018.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for left knee residuals, rated as 10 percent disabling from December 23, 2016, to July 12, 2022, and 20 percent thereafter, is denied. A separate disability rating of 10 percent for left knee instability and/or patellar subluxation is granted, effective from December 23, 2016. The Veteran's increased rating for left knee instability and/or patellar subluxation from 10 to 20 percent under DC 5257, but no higher, from July 13, 2022, is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board must identify and obtain any outstanding SSA records that are not already associated with the record.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Board also remanded the issues regarding bilateral foot disability and left hip disability.

The Veteran's right hip sprain with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain status post total knee replacement (claimed as leg condition), and cervical spine DDD with spinal stenosis and IVDS are all being remanded due to the inextricability of these issues with his other pending claims for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to procedural errors in the initial adjudication by the RO.