Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the right knee disability and its relationship to the service-connected left knee replacement. A new medical opinion is needed that uses the correct definition of aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for nasal bones with deviation to the right was denied. The Board found that the current condition did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.,The claim of service connection for hypertensive heart disease with congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy was previously denied in May 2013, but new evidence received since then does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim. The Board did not reopen this claim as it found no material evidence.,The claim of service connection for hypertension was previously denied in February 2013 and reopened due to new evidence showing recent VA treatment, but the new evidence did not show that the condition was related to service or manifested within one year of discharge. The Board denied reopening this claim as well.,The claim of service connection for a neck disability was previously denied in May 2012 and reopened due to new evidence showing recent VA treatment, but the new evidence did not show that the condition was related to service or manifested within one year of discharge. The Board denied reopening this claim as well.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for neck scars, bilateral metatarsalgia with hallux valgus, bilateral pes planus with callus formation, and migraine headaches have been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for erectile dysfunction (ED) as secondary to service-connected PTSD.

The Board has withdrawn the Veteran's appeal for bilateral knee disabilities and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA and private treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral hearing loss. The issues of service connection for tinnitus and a left knee condition remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of right knee meniscal tear, left rotator cuff tendonitis, and right rotator cuff tendonitis are being remanded for further evaluation due to the possibility that his symptoms have worsened since his last VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is reopened, and his PTSD rating is remanded. The left knee disability secondary to right knee disability is also remanded.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his service-connected right knee arthritis with limited flexion and extension have been denied. The claim for TDIU prior to June 7, 2021 is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as it was shown in service and not attributable to intercurrent causes. The left hand and bilateral knee disabilities are reopened due to new evidence relating to the unestablished fact of chronicity.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 30% rating for the period prior to February 23, 2018, and a 60% rating from April 1, 2019, to January 20, 2021. The TDIU claim was also granted for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development regarding his service-connected left third and fourth finger disabilities, as well as the initial rating for his left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, PFB, and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for recurrent lumbar spine disability, recurrent right ankle disability, recurrent left ankle disability, right foot hallux valgus with gout and heel spurs, and left knee Osgood Schlatter's disease.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, bilateral hip, thoracolumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities as proximately due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of injuries to the left and right knees due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities have been denied as the current evaluations do not accurately reflect the severity or symptomatology of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for service connection were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability did not warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes, as his flexion was limited to no worse than 60 degrees and extension to no worse than 10 degrees.

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the remand directives and the claims must be remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to the current severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD due to MST is granted, and the issue of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability. The examiner was asked to confirm whether there is a chronic right knee disability, including both as established by clinical evaluation and diagnostic studies and based on pain resulting in functional impairment. The examiner also needed to determine the likely etiology of any diagnosed condition.