Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's left ankle disorder is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability.,OSA had its onset during service and the Veteran's OSA is related to service.,Right ankle disorder has moderate limitation of motion with pain, warranting a 10% rating.,Right knee osteoarthritis with tendonitis and limited extension does not meet criteria for higher ratings due to no more than moderate flexion limitation.,Right knee osteoarthritis with tendonitis and painful motion also does not meet criteria for higher ratings due to no more than moderate flexion limitation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations in March 2022. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to assess his current disability levels and their impact on employment.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted, as is an initial 30 percent rating for PVD prior to September 11, 2017. The issue of a higher rating for PVD on extraschedular basis is remanded.

The Board has remanded two issues: entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disorder and entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, which is secondary to the service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion, with a separate 10 percent rating for instability effective September 1, 2009. A separate 20 percent rating is granted from February 2, 2012, for dislocated semilunar cartilage.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent for the entire period on appeal, and a TDIU is granted beginning March 7, 2022.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee and foot disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's physical duties in service, including heavy lifting, are also considered.

The Veteran's right knee conditions are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for an updated opinion considering new medical literature.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right ankle, and lumbar spine conditions due to additional development of medical evidence being needed.

The Veteran's right knee disability has not been manifested by leg flexion limited to 30 degrees, and prior to August 28, 2020, the Veteran's right knee tendonitis was only manifested by slight lateral instability. The claim for increased ratings is denied.,Effective August 28, 2020, to August 28, 2021, a 100 percent rating is warranted for the Veteran's total right knee replacement, tendonitis, post-operative. Effective August 28, 2021, a rating of 60 percent, but no higher, is warranted for the Veteran's total right knee replacement, tendonitis, post-operative.

The Veteran's claims for prostate condition/urinary condition and bilateral knee condition have been reopened, but the claim for degenerative arthritis, left knee remains denied.,The Board found that while the Veteran has a current diagnosis of degenerative arthritis, left knee, there is no evidence to support a nexus between his in-service injury and the development of this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed by a clinician to determine if they were incurred during his active service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left hip, arthritis of the right hand and fingers, and arthritis of the left hand and fingers disabilities as there is no evidence of chronicity within one year of separation from active duty.,The appellant's lay history of symptomatology related to his claimed disorders throughout the appeal period was considered. However, service treatment records do not show any noted symptoms at separation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his disabilities due to a lack of medical opinions linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her service-connected conditions did not prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including right ear hearing loss, hip pain, back pain, foot pain, ankle pain, and knee pain. The remand requires obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations for left ankle and bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for right knee arthritis, and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability. The case will be returned for further examination and an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination and need for additional medical inquiry regarding the Veteran's left knee disorder.