Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no link between his current condition and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate range of motion testing in a previous VA examination, and a new examination is needed to address the Veteran's functional loss with flare-ups and repetitive use over time.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of chronic right knee conditions in service or during the presumptive period. The examiner opined that the current right knee disabilities are less likely related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his military service. The Veteran contends that heavy lifting in service caused his current condition, but the VA examiner found no direct link based on lack of treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened. The claims for radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve and right knee disorder are denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or incident that caused these conditions. The claim for a lumbar spine disorder is granted due to a nexus with service, but the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals for various disability ratings have been withdrawn and are dismissed due to the Veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeal as to all issues.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied in the August 2004 rating decision, and no new and material evidence has been received since then.,The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is reopened due to the submission of a September 2017 VA examination report showing a diagnosis of bilateral knee strain. The Veteran's testimony at the March 2022 Board hearing supports this finding.,Service connection for hypertension, chest pain, and heart condition has not been established as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or post-service continuity of symptoms. Service connection for PTSD was granted with a rating of 50 percent but without an effective date prior to July 18, 2017.,Service connection for metatarsalgia status post fracture in both feet and right leg radiculopathy have been denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions are related to service or the Veteran's current symptoms. Service connection for left shoulder condition, sinus condition, sleep apnea, digestive condition (including GERD), and back condition has also not been established.,The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen claims of service connection for bilateral knee conditions, metatarsalgia status post fracture in both feet, and PTSD. The Veteran's testimony supported these findings.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection as the Veteran requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting opinions from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals seeking increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of these appeals by the Veteran's representative.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right hip arthritis, right knee arthritis, and lumbar spine spondylosis contributed substantially to his death from a blunt head trauma due to a fall.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee condition is at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition, and thus grants service connection for this secondary condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim has been granted. The Board also found that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder condition requires further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to November 1, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to a lack of compliance with VA examination requirements and to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee strain, low back condition, and left lower leg radiculopathy due to inadequate nexus opinions in the May 2016 VA examination report. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition.

The Veteran's death was not determined to be service-connected, and the Board has remanded for further development regarding the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right hip disability, left femur fracture with left knee arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for other specified anxiety disorder and acrophobia is also remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder and left knee disabilities are granted as direct service connection. His bilateral hearing loss is also granted.,Service connection for these conditions is established based on the rigorous nature of his military service, including exposure to noise during training.