Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee instability and patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative changes have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial rating for venous insufficiency of the left lower extremity has been granted at a 40 percent level, effective November 30, 2012.,Service connection for anal stricture (claimed as anal stenosis) was denied with an earlier effective date of March 5, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inadequate VA examination for his left knee disability and the need for additional development regarding TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, was denied. The claims for service connection for a lung disorder (COPD), sleep apnea, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure that VA fulfilled its duty to assist the Veteran and to address functional loss due to flare-ups of her knee disabilities. The case will be remanded for further examination and readjudication.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development due to unclear range of motion measurements and lack of clarification regarding flare-ups, pain on extension, and medication use.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remand were denied. The case was returned to the Board for further action.

The Board denied service connection for various upper extremity, shoulder, wrist, and knee disorders as they were not shown to be related to service or any other compensable condition.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for right and left knee strain, stress fracture, limitation of flexion and extension are denied. She is granted a separate disability rating evaluated at 10 percent, but no higher, for right knee instability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if her systemic rheumatoid arthritis began during service or was caused by an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided were inadequate to address the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues of entitlement to service connection have been remanded due to deficiencies in the prior VA examination reports.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining private medical records and updating employment information. The right knee replacement disability rating case is remanded due to incomplete follow-up on previous requests.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of frequent episodes of locking pain or effusion, and there was no limitation of motion in either flexion or extension warranting a greater than 10% rating.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for left knee repetitive strain injury and service connection for a respiratory disability, including dry cough, are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and heart murmur have been denied. The Board has found that the weight of the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service. His current right foot deformity is remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities as there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection was not granted for the Veteran's psychiatric disability due to insufficient occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's lung disability and left knee disabilities have been granted service connection. The right knee, low back, right foot, and left foot disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and an inadequate VA opinion. The Veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed again for possible service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD to include alcohol abuse has precluded him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since April 2016, and he is now granted a TDIU rating effective February 7, 2017.