Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's asthma is granted on a presumptive basis due to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. The issues for sleep apnea, left knee disability, right knee disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability are remanded as they may be related to her service-connected hypothyroidism (previously rated as Grave's disease). The Veteran's IBS and dry eye syndrome are also remanded for new examinations.

The appeal concerning entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder condition is dismissed.,Entitlement to service connection for COPD has not been met. The Veteran's current COPD does not appear to be related to his active service.

The Board has denied service connection for a heart disorder, back disability, and left knee disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings and failure to conduct range of motion testing during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened due to the PACT Act. The Board has granted service connection for hypertension based on presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. Other claims, including COPD and left knee disability, are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for psoriasis but has remanded the issue of service connection for left knee residuals of meniscus tear due to lack of a medical opinion.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent effective October 11, 2016. The rating was granted as of that date and not prior.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for a higher evaluation of tinnitus and has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, low back disorder, and right knee disorder. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability had its onset in service. Service connection is granted for this condition.,Service connection is remanded for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

The Veteran's restoration of a 20 percent rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Issues regarding increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee degenerative arthritis, and depression are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional evidentiary development, including obtaining new VA examinations to assess the current severity of his right knee disabilities and providing a list of qualifications for the VA examiners who have assessed his disability during the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the increased rating claims for further evidentiary development due to missing VA medical records.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding it likely due to his military service, including parachute jumps. However, there is no evidence linking his left knee disability to service.,For the hernia and TBI residuals, the Veteran's claims are denied as there is insufficient evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current left knee conditions to his service-connected right ankle disability. The TDIU claim was granted based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issues on appeal, including obtaining an opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected left ankle condition and her low back, left knee, and left foot conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disability, sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations did not comply with remand directives and thus the claims for service connection are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service events.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings on various service-connected conditions were denied. The rating of 20 percent for painful scars, to include of the breast and torso, was granted from November 1, 2010, to December 19, 2016, but denied thereafter. A compensable rating for residuals of an inguinal hernia was also denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability remains at a maximum 40 percent rating. Service connection claims were not granted.