Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for a cervical spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The case is remanded for further development regarding the character of discharge and other service connection claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee replacement, has been rated at 30 percent since February 18, 2019. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating as of April 1, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 30 percent for cystic acne has been dismissed.,Service connection for a right knee condition, to include as secondary to service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and lumbar degenerative disc disease (DDD) with spondylolisthesis have both been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and low back disorders were denied as the evidence did not show that higher disability ratings were warranted at any time during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, urinary incontinence and frequency, low back disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as of July 29, 2017.

The Veteran's left knee conditions have been rated based on their current manifestations, with a 60 percent rating for the status post total left knee arthroplasty beginning September 1, 2014. The TDIU has also been granted effective from September 1, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete record requests for the Veteran's private treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and ensure they are sent to the correct address.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further review of the evidence, including a VA examination report submitted in October 2021. The issues regarding service connection are not yet resolved.

The Veteran's right knee disability has increased in severity, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current level of impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a low back disability, to include as secondary to the right knee disability. The June 2022 VA medical opinion found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and service.

The Board has granted a TDIU from December 29, 2014. The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left foot traumatic arthritis is remanded due to the need for addendum opinions regarding the nature and current level of severity of his left foot disability.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for knee and lower leg conditions are inadequate, and thus remanded the claims for a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for type 2 diabetes mellitus and service connection for a left knee condition was denied. The Board found no evidence of regulation of activities required for the higher ratings, and no credible link between any current disability and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his right knee condition, finding that it was not aggravated by active duty beyond its natural progression.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's left total knee replacement, finding that her disability results in intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain, or limitation of motion without severe residuals.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left knee disability, hemorrhoids, callous right foot, and other conditions have been granted. The initial ratings for some conditions were also granted or denied as per the decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety prior to the promulgation of a decision, thus dismissing the case.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's left knee disability and left knee TKR, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.