Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. Service connection is established for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder), bilateral hands and feet disabilities, bilateral knees disabilities, hypertension, back, neck, hips, shoulders, legs, left shoulder condition, right shoulder arthritis, left-hand condition, right-hand condition, back condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, right leg condition, left leg condition, left foot condition, and right foot condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and remanded it due to the need for further development. The Board also found that there is an inextricably intertwined issue of whether new and material evidence supports reopening the claim for service connection for generalized arthritis, involving the left knee.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder, is found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected right foot hallux valgus. Service connection for left foot hallux valgus and a right knee disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was denied in the past, but new evidence has been submitted. The Board found that while there is no direct evidence linking the current condition to service, the Veteran's symptoms are consistent with his reported history of injury during service and subsequent treatment. However, the Board concluded that the medical evidence does not establish a causal relationship between the Veteran's in-service knee injury and his current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee, back, and hip disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for tension headaches (claimed as migraine) and lumbosacral spine degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for left thigh injury, right knee injury and sprain, right ankle injury and sprain, left foot condition (calcaneus and achilles tendinitis), and right foot condition (calcaneus and achilles tendinitis) have been dismissed. The appeal as to low back condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinion and need for additional information.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, including whether it is related to service or secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and failure to address functional loss under Mitchell v. Shinseki, 25 Vet. App. 32 (2011). A new VA examination is required.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to uncertainty about his current employment status and work history.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and sleep apnea, finding that the evidence supports a link to service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, right knee disorder, and right hip disorder due to new evidence submitted. However, these claims are remanded as further medical examination is needed to determine the cause of each condition.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability and right shoulder disability are reopened, but the Board has remanded both issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for aortic stenosis and remanded the remaining issues due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and left knee degenerative arthritis have been granted service connection. Service connection for the right upper extremity (carpal tunnel syndrome) and left upper extremity (carpal tunnel syndrome) neurological disabilities is also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for left hand condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's shin splints affecting the left leg have been rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted.,The claims for residuals from cold weather injury, right leg shin splints, GERD, sleep apnea, and left knee disability are all remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities are not related to his active service, including as residuals of a frostbite injury. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or were otherwise caused by his military service.

For the period prior to May 12, 2022, a higher rating of 20 percent under DC 5260 (limitation of flexion) is granted for both right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and the need for updated treatment records. The Veteran's knee disability is being reviewed again, with a focus on whether it is related to his in-service injury or service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.