Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and a need for updated evidence, particularly regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disability. The TDIU claim will be reconsidered with these updates.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back, left and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, neck, and right knee disabilities. These conditions are considered direct service connections as they were incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his claims in light of recent changes in rating criteria.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted. The Board also remanded several issues for further development, including the rating of his right knee and left shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee degenerative arthritis, right shoulder condition, lumbosacral strain (claimed as back injury), sinusitis, and left ankle condition have all been dismissed. The claim of service connection for sinusitis was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to the need for additional VA examination reports and treatment records, as well as consideration of a claim for Total Disability Rating Due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, as the previous examination lacked sufficient detail regarding pain and functional loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, shoulder, elbow, and neck disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to comply with prior remand directives.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims for service connection can be adjudicated. The claims are remanded for new examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current disability of tinnitus and there is an in-service event, as he was exposed to hazardous noise during his active duty as an aircraft fueler. The Board resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and grants service connection.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The VA examiner found that the Veteran does not have a current disability of bilateral hearing loss, as his hearing thresholds do not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg neurological condition (right leg disability) is denied. There is no evidence of a current diagnosis related to a right leg neurological condition and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disability is remanded. The VA examiner found that the Veteran does not have a definitive diagnosis related to his right shoulder disability, and further examination is needed to determine if his pain in his right shoulder has caused a functional impairment.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back condition is remanded. The January 2018 VA medical opinion found that the Veteran's in-service low back strain is unrelated to the Veteran's current degenerative disc disease, as strains do not cause degenerative disc disease (DDD).,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings and service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for a right eye disability was dismissed.,Her claims for service connection for alcohol dependency and lumbar spine disability were reopened, but the denial of these claims remains.

The Veteran's claims for various hip, elbow, and knee conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records. The appellant is also asked to provide information about private practitioners who treated her husband prior to his passing.

The Board denied service connection for cancer (prostate and melanoma), right knee disability, left knee disability, and right hip disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, low back, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The Veteran is also being asked to provide additional medical records from Dr. E.N., and he will be scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature and severity of his current diagnoses.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but granted service connection for a left knee surgical scar. The issue of service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded.,Service connection will be granted if the evidence demonstrates that a current disability resulted from an injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee conditions, including instability and chondromalacia with degenerative changes. The Veteran is scheduled for a VA knee examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a diagnosed disability.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded to provide an initial VA examination and opinion regarding whether it is a diagnosable, but medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness or if it has a known etiology related to service exposure. The examiner should also address whether there was manifestation of the condition within one year of separation from active duty.,The Veteran's bilateral knee claims are remanded for an examination and opinion regarding whether his arthritis manifested to a compensable degree within one year of separation from active duty, and if so, whether it is aggravated by service. The examiner should also address any complaints of knee pain in October 2012.

The appeal of the left knee disability claim is dismissed. The OSA claim has been granted, and it is determined that the Veteran's OSA is related to his service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process.