Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee arthritis is related to his in-service injuries and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for left leg varicose veins as secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis, left knee with meniscal tear due to disagreement over whether the varicose veins were aggravated by the knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip and knee disabilities are related to his service-connected pes planus, granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for evaluations of right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as the TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. The VA examinations are inadequate, and a new examination is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and right hip conditions, render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to obtain private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to inadequate examination and compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examinations that did not address the Veteran's contentions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right knee conditions, finding that these conditions started during active service and continued to present.

The Board denied the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for instability of the right knee prior to December 21, 2015 and remanded the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for instability of the left knee. The reduction of a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee effective December 21, 2015 was proper as there is no objective evidence of instability prior to or since the reduction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and ratings for his knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have hemorrhoids during active duty, and there was no evidence of a compensable rating for his right knee scar. His initial rating for his right knee disability prior to September 2, 2015 was denied as he had adequate range of motion. A separate 10 percent rating was granted from February 24, 2015 to September 1, 2015 for weakness and falls following meniscus surgery. The Veteran's initial rating higher than 30 percent from January 1, 2017 onward for his total right knee replacement was denied.

The Veteran is granted a clothing allowance for her right knee brace in the year 2013 due to wear and tear on her clothes from using the brace, despite the VA initially denying it.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to December 28, 2011, are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his left shoulder and left knee disabilities. The VA will schedule him for appropriate examinations to determine if ankylosis is present in either joint.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's increased rating claims for his right hip and knee conditions. The case is REMANDED to obtain a VA examination addressing the Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a new VA examination and considering his claim for a TDIU prior to September 25, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right knee degenerative joint disease has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and right shoulder disability have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and knee disorders, as well as the claim for a TDIU prior to January 14, 2022. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service and post-service symptoms will be considered by the VA in providing an opinion on whether these conditions are related to his military service.