Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion and instability prior to April 21, 2015. The rating remains unchanged.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is granted a disability rating of 50 percent, effective November 15, 2018. The right knee disability is remanded for further examination and to obtain relevant records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess his current functional impairment caused by his service-connected disabilities, including spinal stenosis, right knee disability, and low back pain.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his left knee arthritis and meniscus disability. The Board will also address the issue of a TDIU.,A VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities, including arthritis and meniscal condition.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee condition may be related to his service-connected right knee condition, but more evidence is needed for a definitive decision.

The Veteran's left knee lateral meniscal tear disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted due to worsening symptoms. The case is being remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, a left shoulder disability, and prostate cancer due to the NOD being untimely.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions regarding obesity and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions provided in a previous remand. The case is now returned for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, when combined, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since January 1, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee osteoarthritis are being remanded to obtain additional medical records from his period of incarceration.

The Board has ordered the AOJ to obtain addendum opinions regarding the etiologies of the Veteran's right knee, neck, and right shoulder conditions. The AOJ failed to do so due to the Veteran's incarceration and subsequent mental health issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot and knee injuries due to inadequate VA examinations that did not address specific content within the Veteran's service treatment records regarding his knee and foot complaints.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, right knee joint osteoarthritis, left knee joint osteoarthritis, right hip joint osteoarthritis, and left hip joint osteoarthritis have all been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine are not supported by competent medical evidence linking his current disabilities to service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee extension limited to 10 degrees effective October 7, 2021. The initial and higher ratings for right knee arthritis are denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability and remanded both issues. The left hand condition issue is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hand tremors, bilateral knee disorders, a low back disorder, and a skin disorder due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's STRs show he was treated for various conditions during his military service, but further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but the specific nature of the conditions and exposure basis are not specified.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee, left ankle, right eye, and left eye disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records show complaints of knee pain during a 'track run' in service, but no specific diagnosis or treatment. Eye disability was noted in service with conjunctivitis, but the current visual field defect is not related to that incident.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lower back condition, but denied a prior effective date for his left knee condition.,The Veteran's left knee condition is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board has remanded this issue to obtain a current VA examination.