Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has found that further development, including a VA examination, is needed to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is etiologically linked to his in-service left leg fracture. The case will be returned for this purpose.

The Veteran's right knee disability with degenerative arthritis is granted a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion, while the rating for instability remains denied.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities as there is no current diagnosis of a disability related to the knees.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's right foot disability is also granted as service-connected, but the left foot disability remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, consistent with her education, skills, training, and work history.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent prior to April 28, 2015, and a separate 20 percent rating for frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint is granted. The appeal is denied for a higher rating after April 28, 2015.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for various rating and service connection claims related to knee, hip, leg, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity and back disorders, as these conditions may be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU has been remanded due to the need for further development. The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for hypertension is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a left knee strain or other condition resulting in functional impairment during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased disability ratings for right knee strain, hypertension prior to January 7, 2020, hypertension from January 7, 2020, allergic rhinitis, and bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran also withdrew his appeals for the same issues.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's right elbow, right knee, and right ankle disabilities due to evidence of increased severity. For his left shoulder condition, a new opinion is needed regarding whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed. A 100% disability rating for PTSD is granted effective February 1, 2022.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology and relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back condition and bilateral knee condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the Board is remanding the cases of left leg disability, right leg disability, residuals of left knee sprain, and residuals of right knee sprain due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the remaining issues due to need for additional evidence and examinations.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU due to a single service-connected disability, specifically his acquired psychiatric disorder and bilateral lower extremity disabilities. The case is being remanded for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for right knee osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, DDD and DJD of the lumbar spine, bilateral foot disabilities, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder NOS).