Knee decisions — 2022

The reduction in the rating for cervical spine disorder from 30% to 20% was not proper, and the 30% rating is restored.,Entitlement to a greater than 40% rating for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spondylosis is denied.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for right knee disorder. Service connection is granted for right knee arthritis status post total knee replacement.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and left knee disability, but has remanded both issues due to the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including Multiple Sclerosis and detached retina, prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 5, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee limitations of extension, flexion, and instability due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran will need a new VA examination focusing on where pain begins in all range of motion tests and testing for weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing ranges.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disorders, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. The case is being remanded to provide a VA examination and medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee disabilities, low back disability, and right and left wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee condition is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from September 1, 2012. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to July 6, 2011 and from September 1, 2012 (excluding convalescent periods).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected knee and hand disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and denied a rating greater than 30 percent for adjustment disorder.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disorders due to his death.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including degenerative arthritis and symptomatic removal of the meniscus, is granted with a 10 percent rating from January 28, 2016. The issues of service connection for left knee disability and sleep apnea are remanded.

Service connection for PTSD is granted, and a separate compensable rating of 10 percent is denied for the left knee chondromalacia patella. A separate compensable disability rating of 10 percent is granted for instability associated with the service-connected left knee chondromalacia patella.,The Veteran's left knee disability remains rated at 10 percent, based on painful motion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and requests that an addendum opinion be provided regarding whether the claimed conditions are related to her service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for ddd of the lumbosacral spine, osteoarthritis of the right knee, and osteoarthritis of the left knee due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a retrospective opinion on the severity of his left total knee replacement residuals from October 1, 2015 to February 19, 2020. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with the increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran regarding his employment and service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs to complete and return a VA Form 21-8940, which asks about his ability to work due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding various disability ratings and compensation claims, including for bilateral pes planus, knee disabilities, low back issues, hypertension, hand disabilities, prostatitis, and inguinal hernia repair. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Veteran's service connection claims for cervical spine arthritis, thoracolumbar spine arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, right elbow arthritis, left elbow arthritis, right wrist arthritis, left wrist arthritis, right hip arthritis, and left hip arthritis have all been denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for left knee arthritis was denied as a matter of law due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination scheduled in conjunction with his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip arthritis status post arthroplasty with history of SCFE and right knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement. The evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.