Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has denied service connection for right posterior knee disability and has remanded the issue of secondary service connection for right foot drop due to a back condition.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is related to his service-connected PTSD, and the claim for service connection is granted. The issues of rating for trauma and stressor related disorder, left knee disability, right knee disability, and peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The issue of rating in excess of 0 percent for left knee instability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for an increased rating in excess of 60 percent for status post, left total knee arthroplasty (previously rated as DJD, left knee) because the Veteran died during the pendency of this appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected back condition was denied a higher rating prior to February 18, 2020 and after that date. The left knee conditions were also denied higher ratings.,A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability from August 27, 2015 to June 4, 2017 was granted.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the need for private medical records and an examination to assess the Veteran's service-connected conditions and their impact on his ability to use a wheelchair, braces, crutches, or canes as a normal mode of locomotion.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for low back and left knee disorders due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for a recurrent left knee disability, nasal disability, and psychiatric disability due to additional relevant VA examination and clinical documentation being incorporated into the record.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board finds that additional development is needed for the increased rating claims for left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the VA etiology opinions are inadequate and remands the claims for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include right and left knee disabilities, bilateral hip disability, left leg scars, and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee and scar disabilities were remanded due to the possibility of increased severity since their last examination in May 2017. Additional VA examinations are needed to assess current symptomatology and disability levels.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her right foot/ankle disability and scars was denied. She is currently rated at 40 percent for the disability, effective from December 18, 2011.,For the period prior to April 30, 2012, she was not granted an initial compensable rating for her right foot/ankle scars.

The Board has denied service connection for neck, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease (arthritis) of the right knee due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives and inability to obtain necessary medical records. The Veteran's disability is being reviewed again, including obtaining a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left knee instability and DJD prior to April 10, 2018 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on instability or DJD.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his total knee replacement disability from June 1, 2019 onward was granted with a 60 percent rating.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's issues on this current appeal, including obtaining addendum opinions and VA examinations for his eye conditions and musculoskeletal conditions (cervical spine and bilateral knee conditions).

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's right knee instability and has remanded the issue of entitlement to Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU).