Knee decisions — 2022

The Board dismissed the issues of service connection for tinnitus, right and left ear hearing loss, headaches, a right eye disorder, a right knee disorder, and a right shoulder disorder. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including postoperative residuals of a left knee injury, traumatic arthritis of the left knee, and degenerative joint disease of the right knee, were found to be contributory causes of his death. As such, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty is rated at 60 percent effective May 5, 2021. The rating for the period from September 1, 2018 to May 5, 2021 remains denied.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of initial compensable disability rating for right knee disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for lumbar degenerative disease (low back disability).

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of increased rating for right middle finger fracture, service connection for bilateral knees, and residuals of right wrist burn are being returned to VA for additional evaluations.

The Veteran's cervical radiculopathy of the right and left hand is granted service connection, as it is caused by his service-connected arthritis of the cervical spine. The Veteran's right knee disorder is denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left knee condition, back condition, herpes, and scars, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a causal relationship to service for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to January 22, 2019 are being remanded due to insufficient evidence from May 3, 2011, to April 2, 2021. The VA examiner is instructed to provide a retrospective medical opinion based on the entire record.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorder and low back disorder, both claimed as secondary to a service-connected right and left hip disability. The case is being returned to VA for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a left distal fibula fracture with degenerative arthritis. The AOJ must obtain relevant medical records and provide a VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current right knee disorder, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral dry eye syndrome, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to unresolved medical issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum VA opinion to address the Veteran's right knee disability throughout the appeal period and clarifying whether he currently has or had a meniscus condition of the right knee.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran's disabilities are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for hypothyroidism, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability was denied. The effective dates for service connection were also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and piriformis syndrome due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee instability and arthritis with limited flexion are granted at specific ratings from specific dates, while other claims for increased ratings are denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right hip disability and bilateral flat foot, as well as increased ratings for the Veteran's knees. The decision found insufficient evidence to support the claims.