Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the need for retrospective opinions addressing functional loss after repeated use over time and during flare-ups at the time of the January 2015 examination, as well as for an opinion on whether the Veteran experiences left knee effusion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding range of motion during flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and no final decision can be made on the merits of his claims.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and instability, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found no basis for a higher rating.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain missing private treatment records related to the Veteran's left knee disorder. The appellant is required to complete and return VA Form 21-4142 for these records, which should then be obtained by VA.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient reasons and bases in the previous decision, specifically regarding the November 1972 service treatment record that diagnosed the Veteran with trauma of both his right and left knee.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn for several issues, and the Board has remanded three new issues: entitlement to increased ratings for gouty arthritis and right knee disability, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right and left knee instability. The issues on appeal are now limited to separate ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's right and left knee braces caused wear and tear on his clothing, leading to the grant of a clothing allowance for 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board denied a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to August 13, 2010 due to the lack of evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records, specifically missing informed consent documents for a left leg amputation performed on July 2, 2013. The RO is instructed to obtain and associate these documents with the claims file.

The Veteran's TDIU is granted beginning on October 5, 2010, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports, lack of consideration of functional ankylosis, and the need to obtain VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of recent medical examination and updated treatment records. The Veteran's disability ratings for his bilateral knee and lumbar spine conditions are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the competency of a VA examiner and for providing the Veteran and his attorney with information regarding the qualifications of this examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his low back condition and bilateral knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 20, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and missing records. The Veteran's right ankle disability is being reviewed for service connection, with a focus on whether it preexisted service or was caused by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome were denied because he failed to appear at the scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and granted service connection for a left knee disability. The appeal regarding the low back disability is remanded.