Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee instability, left leg arthritis, GERD with esophagitis, and esophageal stricture. The issues of service connection for a right foot disability (claimed as Morton's Neuroma) and a left foot disability (claimed as Morton's Neuroma) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings based on his right knee disabilities due to incomplete development and inadequate consideration of certain evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete range of motion testing in a previous VA examination.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, while his lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent prior to May 11, 2021, and 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right shoulder disability remains at a 20 percent rating.,The Board denied all increased rating claims as the evidence did not support ratings higher than those currently assigned.

Service connection for bilateral knee and hip osteoarthritis is granted.,The Veteran's neck disability is remanded to determine if it is secondary to his service-connected right ankle, bilateral knee, or bilateral hip disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to her service-connected disabilities, including a gynecological disorder and various musculoskeletal conditions. The Board has determined that additional development is needed for these claims due to the need for medical opinions regarding the etiology of the gynecological disorder and the current severity of the psychiatric disorder, headache disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and TDIU. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 60 percent effective May 1, 2011. His bilateral hearing loss is rated at 10 percent. The Board granted a TDIU rating and SMC based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the Board has determined that these ratings are not warranted based on the current evidence of record.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for right ear hearing loss and right knee because the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's lung cancer is granted service connection, while his right and left shoulder disabilities, Barrett's esophagus, hiatal hernia, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss disability are denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations to determine service connection for stomach disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right hip and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical nexus opinions in the April 2018 VA examinations. The Veteran will be provided with new examinations to determine if her current disabilities are related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of arthritis within one year of discharge and that his current condition is not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's worsening left knee condition is not considered to be caused by VA medical care, as the care provided was within expected standards and did not result in any additional disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including investigating the Veteran's service in Korea and Kuwait, obtaining his complete military personnel records, and obtaining any outstanding VA and private treatment records. The claims for right hand frostbite, bilateral hand disability, back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and/or PTSD), left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss are all remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability as secondary to right knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the appeal for an increased rating has been denied. The claim of entitlement to TDIU from June 22, 2011, was dismissed as the Veteran is already receiving a 100 percent schedular rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for a right shoulder disorder and a right knee disorder. The Veteran's migraine headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis with pes planus, and allergic rhinitis are also being reviewed on remand.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, mild hypertrophic facet arthrosis of the lower lumbar spine (lumbar spine disability), right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The claims are based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary service connection.