Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee flexion and TDIU on an extraschedular basis has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, including DJD and instability, were granted a 30 percent rating beginning April 5, 2022. The left knee was rated higher than the right knee.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for right knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and left hip disorder due to inadequate VA opinions in the previous decision. Additional VA addendum opinions are needed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement is rated at 60 percent from March 1, 2014 to October 14, 2020. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a higher rating and TDIU prior to March 1, 2022.

The Veteran's left and right knee DJD/osteoarthritis are rated at 20 percent each prior to May 16, 2013. The Board finds that the conditions meet the criteria for a 20 percent rating due to severe osteoarthritis with constant pain, swelling, grinding, weakness, and tightness.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand, heart, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete VA examination reports. The Veteran is seeking higher disability ratings for these conditions, which are currently rated at 10 percent each.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder disabilities and right knee disability due to conflicting medical opinions and need for further development.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran does not have current hearing or knee disabilities for VA purposes.

The Veteran's GERD is rated at 30 percent since the beginning of the appeal period, effective from August 2015.,The Veteran's left eyebrow scar was initially rated as noncompensably disabling and later granted a 30 percent rating since July 20, 2016.,The Veteran's right knee strain is denied for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,Right shin splint remains remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders should be remanded due to procedural issues, specifically regarding the submission of a Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need to consider his exposure to burn pit toxins under the PACT Act. The Veteran is presumed exposed to burn pit toxins as a result of his service in Egypt.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in July 2022 were inadequate to decide the claims for increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis with meniscal tear, left knee subluxation and degenerative joint disease, left knee residual scar, and reactive airway disease. The case is being remanded to obtain addendum opinions from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if his current right knee conditions are related to active service or due to his service-connected disabilities, specifically bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for lumbar strain, right shoulder strain, and right knee strain due to incomplete VA examinations. The Veteran's radiculopathy of the lower extremities are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, insomnia disorder, right ankle and knee disorders, and hearing loss, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of February 11, 2021. The Board finds the evidence insufficient to determine his unemployability prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, left knee disability, stomach disability, hypertension, back disability, and headaches due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee arthritis and left knee degenerative joint disease. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions are inextricably intertwined with the issue of TDIU.

The Veteran's initial ratings for PTSD and left knee degenerative joint disease with patellar tendonitis were reduced from 70% to 50%, and from 40% to 10%, respectively, both effective August 1, 2017. The reduction was granted as the evidence did not support higher ratings.