Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inconsistencies in the VA examination reports. The Veteran's knee and ankle conditions are being evaluated again to determine their current severity.

The Board has granted service connection for tension headaches, cervical spine spondylosis, facet syndrome and cervical myofascial pain syndrome, right shoulder osteoarthritis and labral tear status post arthroscopic repair, thoracolumbar strain, and right knee tendonitis/tendinosis and patellofemoral pain syndrome. The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise as to whether these conditions arose during service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot and left knee disorders. However, these claims are being remanded as further medical examination is needed to determine the etiology of any current diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records. The issues of back, shoulder, knee, foot, bronchitis, vision, and arm disorders are being reviewed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right ankle and/or plantar fasciitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU prior to September 3, 2013 are inextricably intertwined with his current claims. Therefore, these issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his disability under the newly revised rating criteria.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis, right and left knee disabilities are not rated higher than the current 30 percent. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since March 23, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Board previously denied a claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to the lack of informed consent documentation, but the Court has directed the Board to review whether the consent complied with VA regulations. The case is now remanded to obtain and review the full consent document.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial rating for knee disorders are remanded due to new evidence received. The appeal for a higher rating for lumbar spine disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral ankle disability, left knee strain, and right knee arthritis due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a left shoulder condition was granted. The claims for bilateral knee and ankle conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee condition was denied. The Board also found that the Veteran is not entitled to SMC at the housebound rate from July 1, 2014 due to lack of evidence showing he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment solely due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his left knee disability, including a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease and a separate rating for instability, was denied. The criteria for the requested increased ratings were not met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings related to his service-connected left hip and knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for temporary total evaluations under 38 C.F.R. � 4.29 and 38 C.F.R. � 4.30 are denied as there is no evidence of hospitalization or surgery with convalescence due to a service-connected disability during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to incomplete records and insufficient medical evidence. The AOJ is instructed to obtain relevant private treatment records, including those from Pikes Peak Health and Saginaw Vet Center. Additionally, a VA examination should be scheduled to assess the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as left and right knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, left knee condition, right knee condition, and diabetes mellitus, type II due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions during active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of all applicable diagnostic codes and a thorough explanation in the prior rating decisions.