Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a right knee disability, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, including postoperative right medial meniscectomy and residual scar, is currently rated at 20 percent. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities making it impossible for him to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are all granted service connection as they are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the adequacy of a previous VA examination, and now needs an updated examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia. Additionally, a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the overlap with other issues.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an updated VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee osteoarthritis and left ankle disability. The claim for service connection of a left knee disability was remanded.,There is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to the claimed conditions, and the current disabilities are not shown to be related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disabilities began during active service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of left knee disability before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to October 5, 2015. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to limited flexion.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and bipolar II disorder, is being reviewed as a result of his in-service stressors. His left knee disability is also under review, with an emphasis on whether it is related to his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional examination to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound status prior to January 24, 2019, and after February 29, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative arthritis of the right knee status-post ACL joint reconstruction, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by a parachuting injury in service.

The Veteran's left knee disability has rendered him unable to secure and follow gainful employment since August 20, 2021. His other service-connected conditions do not prevent him from working.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to incomplete compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee condition. The Board has also remanded for further development of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is granted.,New evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, and other disabilities. Service connection will be considered on the merits.

The rating reductions for the Veteran's right and left knee ligamentous laxity from 10% to 0% were improper, and the appeals are granted with restoration of the original ratings.

The Board has determined that the appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea is remanded, and all other issues on appeal are addressed. The Veteran's right knee disability remains rated as 10 percent disabling, with a separate 10 percent rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee with noncompensable limitation of motion due to pain and/or swelling from February 19, 2013. Temporary total evaluation beyond April 1, 2015 is denied, as is TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate.