Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee tendonitis, depressive disorder, and COPD for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to decide the claims for service connection for PTSD, costochondritis, back condition, hearing loss, abdominal pain, hemorrhoids, traumatic brain injury (TBI), left ankle condition, and right knee strain. The Veteran's VA generated evidence will be reviewed in a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including left knee disability, back disability, left foot disability, right foot disability, right ankle disability, hepatitis C, and arthritis. The evidence did not show a nexus between any of these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient consideration of his lay statements regarding the chronicity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted based on limitation of extension.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied service connection claims for fallen arches and right knee condition was granted.,Service connection for skin rash, bilateral flat feet, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right knee DJD, left knee DJD, right ankle tendonitis, and left ankle tendonitis is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, left shoulder, left hip, and left knee disabilities. The right hip and right knee disabilities are denied as secondary to the other disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or chronic disease, and that any current conditions are not proximate to his service-connected hip and spine disabilities.

The Veteran's right leg below the knee amputation is rated at 60 percent, which meets the criteria for an increased rating under DC 5164. The decision does not address any other conditions or theories of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and knee conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these issues.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of Hepatitis C, IBS, lower back disability, and left knee disability due to his withdrawal from appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for an anxiety disorder. The claims for lumbar spine disability, hypertension, left knee disability, and sleep apnea are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right knee disability due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a rating for her right knee osteoarthritis are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability was reopened and granted. The Board found that the evidence established a link between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's left knee instability is now rated at 20 percent, effective since February 7, 2021. Service connection for a low back disability and service connection for ischemic heart disease are granted.

The Veteran's appeal of an increased rating for vertigo was dismissed.,Right knee impairment, left knee impairment, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and obstructive sleep apnea were all granted service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequacies in prior VA examinations and new evidence suggesting a greater degree of impairment regarding right knee instability. A retrospective medical opinion is needed for the period from November 24, 2014 to January 24, 2018, and an assessment of current right knee instability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's joint disabilities, specifically right knee pain, elbow pain, shoulder pain, plantar fasciitis, and left wrist pain. The VA examiner was asked to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a cervical spine disability resulting in paralysis. Additional evidence from private medical sources must be obtained before further action can be taken.