Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, including right elbow, left hip, and right hip conditions, are granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Personality Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, Right Knee Condition, and Left Knee Condition have been granted. The appeal is denied for the claim of service connection for Personality Disorder due to preclusion by VA regulations. Service connection has been established for Schizoaffective Disorder and both knee conditions are remanded for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for back and left knee disabilities, with an initial 10% rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired mental disorder, denied service connection for a right shoulder condition, and denied service connection for a left knee condition.

The Veteran's right knee strain with tendonitis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has remanded for further development. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings for GERD and service connection for chronic enterocolitis are also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for right knee disorder, erectile dysfunction, bilateral eye disorder, lung disorder, bilateral foot disorder, bilateral hip disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), TMJ, kidney disorder, low back disorder, and headache disorder. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of evidence.

The Veteran's left knee instability disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling prior to February 11, 2019. The Board finds that the evidence of record does not support a higher rating for this condition.,Since April 1, 2020, the Veteran is currently evaluated with the highest rating permissible under the schedular criteria following one-year status post total left knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, the Board notes that a higher or separate rating based on involvement and dislocation of the cartilage is not appropriate.,The Veteran's entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to February 10, 2019, for left knee disability based on limitation of flexion is remanded. The Board finds that there has not been substantial compliance with this portion of the July 2021 Board remand directives.,The Veteran's entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent from January 10, 2014, to May 1, 2017, for left knee disability based on limitation of extension is also remanded. The Board finds that there has not been substantial compliance with this portion of the July 2021 Board remand directives.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to an inadequate VA examination, and the Veteran's request for a proper orthopedic examination.

The Veteran's diabetes and left leg amputation claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, as well as the retrieval of missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for PTSD, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and right ear hearing loss has been granted. The cases are now remanded for further evaluation.,PTSD service connection is established.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including right and left knee conditions, transient ischemic attack (stroke) residuals, gastrointestinal symptoms, voiding dysfunction, thalamic pain syndrome of the left side, and acquired psychiatric disorder as a stroke residual, have been denied.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities do not warrant ratings in excess of 10 percent based on flexion limitation. The Veteran's transient ischemic attack (stroke) residuals with difficulty chewing and swallowing are rated at 10 percent. Gastrointestinal symptoms with chronic constipation as a stroke residual have been rated noncompensable prior to April 21, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and opinions regarding his claimed conditions. The issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, as well as service connection for GERD, abdominal tumor residuals, diverticulitis, respiratory condition, headaches, skin rash condition, and joint pains (bilateral shoulder, wrists, knees, lumbar spine) are all remanded.

The claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded several issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence showing a disease or injury in service or any link to service. The Board also found that the post-service medical records did not show a continuity of symptoms since separation from active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hyperkeratosis of the feet, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee. The decisions were final as the Veteran did not submit a notice of disagreement or file new evidence within one year.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right foot disorder, but denied his claims for total left hip arthroplasty, bilateral knee degenerative changes, and bilateral ankle disorders. The right foot disorder is found to be due to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's increased rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right thigh with 5-inch muscular hernia and right knee involvement is denied. Separate ratings are granted for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage in the right knee and degenerative arthritis of the right hip.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist CTS, low back disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorders. Service connection is denied for a cervical spine disorder.

The Veteran's right foot metatarsalgia with pes planus and left total knee replacement disabilities are currently rated at the maximum available schedular ratings.,The Veteran's back, varicose veins, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension claims are remanded for further development.