Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for right arm bicipital tendonitis and remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and attempting to obtain records from identified providers. The Veteran's claims are currently pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding his kidney disability, chest pain, anemia, and knee disabilities. The issues of temporary total rating (TTR) under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 for surgery on the knees will also be remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a right ankle disability, PTSD rating, PFB rating, left forearm raised lesion rating, and sleep disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is dismissed. The Board has remanded multiple issues including service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, sinus disorder, bilateral eye disorder, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea), headache disorder, thyroid disorder, diabetes mellitus, respiratory disorder, back disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, and right shoulder disorder. The Veteran's hypertension appeal is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work history for the appeal period prior to November 19, 2010.

The Board has decided to remand the issues of entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 30 percent disabling for a right knee disability, beginning September 1, 2016, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), for the period prior to September 1, 2016. Additional development is needed due to possible worsening of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for increased ratings of his left knee medial meniscus tear and right shin splint with limitation of motion of the knee, effective June 2022.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the relationship between his disabilities and active service, including right knee total arthroplasty and PTSD with depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary to obtain a more detailed opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability and its relation to VA treatment in November 2013.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete medical records and other issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a right knee disability due to insufficient evidence, including treatment records from Upper Bucks Orthopaedics and VA clinics prior to 2002. The Veteran will be asked to assist in obtaining these records.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome and found that there was no evidence to support service connection for his left knee disability.

The Board has found that further evidentiary development is needed before the claim for service connection for sleep apnea can be adjudicated. The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome was rated as 10 percent disabling, effective March 22, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, as the current VA examinations are inadequate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee painful range of motion and degenerative arthritis with instability due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is now rated separately for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran has a current left knee disorder and if it is related to his military service. The Veteran will need to undergo an examination to determine these issues.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, right knee condition, and bilateral Achilles tendonitis have been granted service connection.,These conditions are considered direct service connections as they were incurred during the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, left ankle disability, and right knee disability are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear, right knee instability, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The remand requires additional development including a new VA examination and consideration of functional loss during flare-ups.