Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is reopened, and he is granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.,The Veteran's right shoulder subacromial impingement syndrome with SLAP labral tear and degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent. The Veteran is also granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee effective April 30, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral knee conditions and back disability, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU effective September 19, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to his left knee, left leg, left ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type 1, and liver disease. The claims are being returned for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee condition and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to inadequate examination in September 2019. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to military service and awarding him a rating.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions regarding whether his left knee disorder was incurred during service. The VA needs to obtain relevant records and provide a clarifying opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at various levels from September 2, 2014, to March 12, 2022. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of those assigned.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to additional relevant evidence being added to the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete development, including lack of retrospective opinions on functional loss during flare-ups and repetitive use.

The Veteran is granted a nonservice-connected pension since October [REDACTED], 2020, due to his age and inability to work due to disabilities. Prior to this date, the Veteran's disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and disability ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee disability and service connection for a skin rash due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran needs to undergo VA examinations to assess the severity of his knee condition and determine if his skin rash is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee meniscal tear residuals with osteoarthritis is denied as an effective date prior to August 22, 2016, cannot be granted.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased ratings for right ankle, left ankle, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the left knee was granted. The claims for arthritis of the right knee were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, a right hip condition, and a low back disability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to conflicting data from recent VA examinations, and the need for additional retrospective opinions.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder is caused by his service-connected knee disabilities, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since December 27, 2021. The appeal is remanded to determine if he was employed in any substantial gainful occupation prior to this date.