Knee decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, OSA, and hypertension. The Veteran's current conditions were not caused by any in-service incident.,There is no evidence indicating a link between the Veteran's current conditions (left knee disability, OSA, and hypertension) and an in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Board has determined that more current examination is needed to rate the claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities due to a remote most recent examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including degenerative arthritis and an acute small meniscus tear, is currently rated at 20 percent since January 21, 2020. The rating remains unchanged prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of VA treatment records. The Veteran contends his conditions are related to service, specifically a parachute landing fall in December 1996.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for joint pain of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking his current knee disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, right knee, and hip disabilities did not meet or approximate the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as service-connected. The left hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right hip disability, and left ankle disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome (PFS) due to a tripping injury during his Navy service, giving him the benefit of any reasonable doubt.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and a right knee disability have been granted. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's service periods and inactive duty for training (FTTD). The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle disorder, left knee disorder, left elbow disorder, and low back disorder are now pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of lumbar spine, left knee, and left hip disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The appeal for entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed. The appeal of the denial of an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left-knee iliotibial-band syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted. The reduction of his right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome rating from 20% to 10% was denied, and a higher rating for the condition was also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, which is related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 60% since May 9, 2018. The VA found that the condition met the criteria for a 60% evaluation based on severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the low back and left knee disorder, finding no link between these conditions and any in-service events.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a sleep disorder and headaches has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, to include PTSD, have been granted as they are related to a verified in-service stressor.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within one year after separation, and that any current conditions are more likely due to natural progression over time.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability was denied for ratings in excess of the assigned 30 percent and 60 percent prior to March 15, 2019 and from March 15, 2019 to October 21, 2020. Effective October 21, 2020, a 60 percent rating was granted for the right knee disability.,The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability was denied for ratings in excess of the assigned 10 percent and 30 percent from January 1, 2018 to March 14, 2019 and from March 15, 2019 to October 20, 2020. Effective October 21, 2020, a 60 percent rating was granted for the left knee disability.,The Veteran's service-connected left ankle degenerative arthritis was denied for ratings in excess of the assigned 10 percent prior to October 21, 2020 and a 20 percent rating was granted effective October 21, 2020.