Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board granted a TDIU based on his physical and cognitive limitations.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a bilateral hip disability and a bilateral knee disability due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions regarding his orthotics/air splints in service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right lower extremity, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to insufficient examination findings and opinions. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again to determine if they are related to his service-connected right thigh gunshot wound.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left hip disabilities, as well as unspecified arthritis of the cervical, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral elbow joints. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to his active service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including early osteoarthritis and dislocated semilunar cartilage with locking and effusion, has been rated based on the severity of symptoms such as pain, instability, and joint locking. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted under current criteria.,A separate 20 percent rating for moderate right knee instability effective May 13, 2015 was granted.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for his left knee disability prior to July 21, 2021 is denied. For the period from September 1, 2022, an initial evaluation higher than 60 percent for Osgood-Schlatter's disease with osteoarthritis of the left knee, status post total knee arthroplasty is granted.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement was granted a 60% rating from October 7, 2020 to October 24, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and COPD, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board also found that COPD is not due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty is not rated higher than 30 percent from January 1, 2015, to February 5, 2018. For the period beginning December 5, 2011, and thereafter, a separate compensable rating under diagnostic code 5257 is denied.

The Veteran's claims for right knee instability, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been granted.,The Board has determined that new and material evidence was received to reopen these previously denied claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition secondary to his right knee condition and granted this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and right knee disorder were granted. The claim for left knee disorder due to the lumbar spine disorder was denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a torn meniscus of the left knee, finding that there was clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition existed prior to his entrance into military service and was not aggravated by his active military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee strain with DJD (limitation of flexion) is denied. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability remains at a 20% rating prior to December 2, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his bilateral knee disabilities and a VA aid and attendance examination. The issues of increased ratings for the left and right knees, TDIU, and SMC based on need for aid and attendance are being addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims for fibromyalgia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), dysphonia, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to insufficient medical opinions provided by the July 2021 VA examiner.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected thoracic strain, right knee tricompartmental chondrocalcinosis, and right ankle sprain are being remanded due to the possibility of worsening symptoms. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, lower back, and right hip conditions are remanded due to inadequate examinations. The Veteran contends her current conditions are related to her time in active duty.