Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's left TKR disability is rated at 60 percent from February 10, 2014 to the present. Higher ratings are denied for the period prior to that date.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand directives and thus requires additional development for the Veteran's right knee disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion and left knee instability due to inconsistencies in the assessments of the Veteran's knee stability.

The Veteran's right shoulder and right knee scars have been granted initial compensable ratings.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been remanded.

The appeals for service connection and compensation under the 1151 Act have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating determinations for various musculoskeletal disabilities, including right knee disability, lumbar strain, cervical strain, and left knee internal derangement and chondromalacia. Additional VA clinical documentation from a hospitalization report is relevant to these claims.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis, as well as her bilateral knee osteoarthritis, have been granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to their manifestation within one year of separation from active service.,Service connection for uterine fibroids with myomectomy has not been established.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee and lower back disorders due to inadequate VA examinations, lack of treatment records from July 2018 onward, and a need for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus, left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, and liver disability. The Veteran's testimony regarding in-service heavy lifting and lack of treatment due to language barriers are considered.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for a back disorder was reopened due to new evidence received since the May 2013 rating decision. The claim of service connection for thoracolumbar disc space narrowing with degeneration and spondylosis and right knee residuals of remote partial thickness tear of the right ACL fibular collateral ligament sprain is granted.,Service connection for headaches is granted as the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether the Veteran has a disability caused by his PTSD.,Service connection for TBI residuals is denied due to lack of competent and credible evidence showing causation.,A 30 percent rating for GERD since February 1, 2018 is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination opinions and the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee conditions, finding that the Veteran's current knee pain is at least as likely as not related to military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address functional loss during flare-ups and prolonged use of the right knee.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee, right hip, left hip, and back disorders were not present in service or until years thereafter, they are not related to service or to an incident of service origin, and they are not caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right knee conditions, including limitation of flexion, extension, lateral instability and subluxation, dislocated cartilage with frequent locking, pain, and effusion, and a painful scar, are now rated at the maximum allowable under current VA regulations. The effective date is not specified as it pertains to an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran's diabetes and ischemic heart disease are granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his time in Thailand. The right leg amputation, mini strokes, brain disease disability, and acquired psychiatric disability (bipolar disorder) are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's PTSD, right knee disability, and left knee disability are being remanded for further review due to incomplete STRs and procedural issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to September 17, 2020. Therefore, the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted a separate 10 percent rating prior to March 14, 2017 and denied for any higher ratings from that date.