Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient VA medical records and an inadequate examination. The Veteran's knee conditions are being reviewed again for proper service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions caused or aggravated his drug abuse, which led to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is at least as likely as not related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending appeals before the Board, including those for increased ratings and service connection claims. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's bilateral knee braces caused wear and tear to her clothing, leading to a decision in favor of granting a clothing allowance for 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for appendectomy residual scar was denied, and the right knee disorder issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to a failure to obtain a VA examination addressing the claim on a direct incurrence basis.

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability and has remanded the issues of bilateral upper and lower extremity tendonitis, bilateral knee disorder, right hip disorder, and prostate cancer residuals.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's statements and lay history will be considered, along with his service records.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 7, 2022. The Board also granted a TDIU prior to March 1, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been granted. The Board found that the evidence supported direct service connection for most of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's neck scar is rated at 10 percent, but a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of characteristics of disfigurement. The Veteran has been found to have painful scars warranting a separate 10 percent rating.,Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left and right knees are remanded as there may be an intermediate step in causing or aggravating these conditions due to obesity.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current knee disorders are related to her military service.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for service connection for a back disability, but has remanded the issues regarding neck and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, consistent with his education background and work history. The Board has granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's left knee flexion does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating.,The Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent disability rating for his right knee limitation of extension.,The Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent disability rating for his left knee limitation of extension.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for higher evaluations and service connection for migraines, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and post-Lyme disease syndrome.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The remaining orthopedic issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal of several service connection claims, including for tinnitus, back disability, knee disabilities, headaches, and sleep apnea, is dismissed. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and COPD due to herbicide exposure. The claims are not granted as there is no evidence of a service connection.