Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that there have not been substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and further remand is necessary to obtain VA medical opinions addressing the Veteran's right hip and knee disabilities for the period from 2008 onward, including retrospective Sharp and Correia compliant range of motion estimates.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and tinnitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.,The claim for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for traumatic brain injury (TBI) was also denied as a matter of law because the Veteran failed to report for VA examinations scheduled in October 2021 and May 2022.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for an adequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability. The claim will be reviewed again after obtaining additional records and conducting further examination.

The Board has found that new examinations are needed for the Veteran's right thumb disability, left leg lymphedema, and bilateral knee arthritis due to incomplete information in previous VA examinations. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it could significantly impact these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus with left foot metatarsalgia, calcaneal heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, or tinea pedis. The Veteran was also asked to provide records from a Worker's Compensation agency and undergo an orthopedic examination.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition, as well as whether her left leg condition is related to her service-connected left knee condition. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, an increased rating for left knee disability, and TDIU due to unresolved medical issues and lack of sufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for psoriatic arthritis of the right knee, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between current symptoms and in-service conditions.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for osteoarthritis/degenerative arthritis of the left knee before January 19, 2018, finding that the Veteran's disability more nearly approximates the next-highest rate.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee meniscal tear, finding that it was incurred during his military service. The decision also reopened the claim due to new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, cervical spondylosis, left knee strain, and right knee strain.,Further issues of service connection for a thoracolumbar disability (to include thoracic scoliosis) are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for tachycardia, hypertension, and right knee chondromalacia have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals through his representative.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity and manifestations of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with Depressed Mood, as well as the nature and etiology of any right and left knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, and arm, elbow, and hand disorders. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for various conditions and issues, including colitis, left varicocele, bowel incontinence, shoulder disability, knee disability, GERD, and right leg disability. Service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted as secondary to service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation and consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as his service-connected right knee chondromalacia and mild degenerative changes of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus are not shown to warrant an initial rating greater than 10 percent prior to April 12, 2021.,The Veteran's appeal is also denied as his service-connected right knee chondromalacia and mild degenerative changes of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus are not shown to warrant an initial rating greater than 30 percent thereafter.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right shoulder disorders are not causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

For the initial rating period from May 3, 2010 to June 7, 2010, and from August 1, 2010, a higher initial disability rating of 20 percent for right knee instability is granted.,For the entire initial rating period on appeal from May 3, 2010, a higher initial disability rating of 20 percent for left knee instability is granted.

The Veteran's right knee subluxation and instability are rated at 10 percent from January 13, 2009 to July 12, 2016. A separate rating of 20 percent for the left knee meniscal condition is granted as of January 13, 2009, and a 10 percent rating for the same condition is granted from October 22, 2009 to present.,The Veteran's right knee disability prior to October 12, 2016 was rated at 40 percent. The left knee disability was rated at 30 percent prior to October 12, 2016 and 10 percent thereafter.