Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a back disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are now remanded for further development including examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's right knee ACL repair with instability is granted a 20 percent rating prior to June 13, 2016. The claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for the same condition from June 13, 2016 is denied. A separate 20 percent rating is granted for a dislocated semilunar cartilage.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee arthritis, respiratory condition (shortness of breath), bilateral hearing loss, and recurrent tinnitus.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's right knee disability as secondary to his left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and right knee disorder have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since September 24, 2015. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a left knee disability and a lumbar spine disability due to inadequate attempts by VA to schedule examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a new examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disability and bilateral hip disability, both to include as secondary to right knee disability. The VA examinations provided opinions that these disabilities were not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's now service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his disabilities. The issues of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified depressive disorder with secondary other substance abuse disorder, service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral wrist disability, bilateral hand disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, and diabetes mellitus, type II are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient examination reports addressing her psychiatric, headache, dizziness, hip, and knee disabilities. The issues are related to whether these conditions had their onset during active service or are otherwise related to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's back and knee disabilities have worsened since her last VA examinations, and she needs new evaluations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-partial replacement surgery, is rated at a 60 percent since October 1, 2010. The rating reflects chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion.

The Veteran's service connection claim for left ventricular hypertrophy was granted. The initial evaluations for bilateral pes planus, hypertension, and left knee degenerative joint disease with meniscal tear were also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee injury, left foot disability, respiratory disability (asthma and obstructive sleep apnea), and ulcerative colitis. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to have started during his military service.

The Board has determined that further assistance is needed to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and to provide her with a VA examination regarding her asthma, right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral plantar fasciitis. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's sinusitis was granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran's character of discharge for the period from January 2005 to October 2008 should be remanded, as well as his claims for psychiatric disorders, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, sacroiliac weakness, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral leg shin splints, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral hammertoes, bilateral foot disorder, hypertensive heart disease, high blood pressure, emphysema, COPD, bronchiectasis, sleep apnea, maxilla oral surgery scarring, tooth loss and periodontal disease, skin cancer, facial scarring, and hemorrhoids.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and low back disabilities. The remaining issues of service connection for heart problems, residuals of a head injury, an acquired psychiatric disorder or sleep disorder, and TDIU have been remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed disabilities of the left knee, cervical spine, and left shoulder due to a lack of current disability evidence. The Board found that there was no diagnosed disease or injury in these joints during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to concerns about the adequacy of a previous VA examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for PTSD and a higher initial rating for asthma. The remaining issues of service connection for various conditions, including right knee disorder, left arm disorder, right leg numbness, left leg numbness, depressive disorder, lumbar myositis (lumbar spine disability), left knee disability, migraine headaches, chronic gastritis, and left foot degenerative arthritis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development due to issues related to his right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as his right ankle disability. No new rating has been assigned yet.