Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain outstanding service treatment records. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee condition and service connection for a low back condition are also being remanded.

The Veteran's thoracic and cervical spine disabilities, left knee limitations of flexion and extension, and left shoulder disability are granted effective July 12, 2010.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted an effective date of December 23, 2009.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for CTE, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded due to new evidence submitted since previous decisions.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeals for left shoulder, left elbow, and right elbow disabilities. The claims for service connection of left knee and right knee disabilities have been reopened due to new and material evidence.

Service connection for bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus has been granted.,The issues of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and a bilateral ankle disorder are remanded for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder and left knee disability, as well as his claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded because of the need for updated medical evidence and further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, including as secondary to his service-connected multilevel degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease of the spine and degenerative spurring of the lower extremities (knees). The case is being returned for additional development.

The Veteran's increased ratings claims for his bilateral knee disabilities and residuals from recurrent hernia are remanded due to the lack of medical records and need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's right and left tibia disabilities, as well as their associated knee and ankle instability issues, have been granted increased ratings. The right and left knee instability issues received initial 10 percent ratings prior to April 22, 2022, and a 20 percent rating from that date onwards. Right and left ankle instability issues also received initial 10 percent ratings.

The Board denied service connection for a left ankle disability, finding that the evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.,Service connection for a back disability is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new examination to address knee stability and effusions, as well as range of motion testing. The issues remain on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU due to ongoing development needs.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to deficiencies in previous medical opinions and need for additional development of the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities and TDIU for the period prior to July 13, 2015 due to inadequate examination findings. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis as there is no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active duty service.,The Veteran's STRs did not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions. The VA examiners provided negative nexus opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeals due to failure to schedule VA examinations as part of the May 2020 remand. The issues on appeal include higher initial ratings for low back disability, right knee disability, and superficial peroneal nerve paresthesia, as well as TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings was denied. He received a separate 10 percent rating for right knee patellar instability effective November 10, 2021.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 7, 2017 for the award of service connection for right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding a compensable rating for the Veteran's right knee disability and her entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower back pain, bilateral knee pain, and bilateral shin pain due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is required to undergo VA compliant examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions addressing continuity of symptoms since service.