Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's application to reopen the claims for service connection for cervical spine disorder and left knee disorder have been granted. The case is REMANDED for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of the cervical spine disorder and addressing secondary service connection for radiculopathy.

The Board dismissed all appeals as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of extraschedular evaluations. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee disorder is related to his military service, including cumulative impact of in-service physical duties such as playing war games while wearing rucksacks and other heavy gear. The examiner must provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed again for possible service connection.

The Veteran withdrew their claims for increased ratings related to right knee conditions, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful motion and limited range of motion, does not warrant a higher initial rating as the evidence does not support flexion or extension limitations that would justify a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for anal fissures, respiratory disability (claimed as asthma), right knee disability, and sleep apnea are all granted. The claim for a respiratory disability is denied due to lack of evidence of such condition during or after service. Service connection for the right knee disability is also denied because there was no in-service injury or disease that resulted in current symptoms. Sleep apnea is denied as well.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of tricompartmental osteoarthritis are due to her active-duty service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his right knee conditions and restored his original ratings for left knee strain and instability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee condition, and a new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as a right knee disability, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on functional loss or marked limitation of motion.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection as it was presumed to have been incurred in service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral knee disorder, and a left eye disorder are denied.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as right and left hip disorders, all of which are not considered secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic low back pain.,The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's current knee and hip conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, and acquired psychiatric disabilities due to lack of evidence showing aggravation during service or onset in service. The new and material evidence received did not relate to these issues.

The Board has granted TDIU and remanded the issue of increased rating for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for low back, left knee, and gastrointestinal disabilities due to inadequate VA opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's assertions of pre-service onset of these conditions are not addressed by the June 2021 VA examiners.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to insufficient evidence linking his homicide to any service-connected condition or contributing substantially to his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a TDIU based on these conditions, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.