Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee instability and limited flexion is denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, satisfied with the recent rating decision that granted service connection for multiple disabilities previously on appeal.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the Veteran's low back disability, but additional development is needed on claims for Parkinson's disease, left knee and bilateral hip disabilities, as well as TDIU prior to August 29, 2019.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for determining whether service connection is warranted for various disorders. The claims are therefore being remanded to obtain new medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings in multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic urticaria and left knee degenerative joint disease are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for right leg shin splints and patellofemoral syndrome (PFS) due to incomplete information provided in a previous VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions began during service and have persisted since.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine disability, left knee and ankle disabilities, right knee and ankle disabilities, and right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, are remanded for further evaluation due to assertions of worsening since previous examinations in 2018. The issues of increased ratings and TDIU are also remanded as they could significantly impact these decisions.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability evaluations for left knee degenerative joint disease, status-post partial knee replacement and instability was denied. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent disabling each, and the Board has determined that a higher evaluation is not warranted.

The appeal for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is dismissed. The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a recurrent left knee disability, a recurrent respiratory disability, and a recurrent abdominal disability are remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a bilateral knee condition was denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition is remanded, as the Board found there may be an association with his service-connected left shoulder condition.

The Veteran's left knee limitation of flexion is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board has found that this does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating. The case is remanded to allow for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for back, bilateral knee, and bilateral foot/ankle disorders due to inadequate VA medical opinions in previous decisions. The case is now pending again.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete directives in previous decisions.

The Board denied a separate compensable rating for instability of the right knee from May 4, 2010 (except for a 100 percent period for convalescence from May 18, 2016 to September 1, 2016), finding that there was no evidence of actual instability.

The Board has remanded the claims for a bilateral foot disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and sleep apnea due to outstanding service treatment records and new VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after the May 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has determined that additional evidence must be reviewed by the AOJ before a final decision can be made on the claims. The Veteran's service connection requests for various conditions are being remanded to allow for further development and consideration.