Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for pseudogout of the right knee, pseudogout of the left knee, and headaches, to include migraine headaches. The remand requires additional medical opinions regarding in-service incurrence and aggravation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that these conditions are causally related to his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent prior to April 27, 2022 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for right-knee osteoarthritis was denied. The VA assigned a 20% rating effective from April 27, 2022.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a failure to comply with previous directives from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). Specifically, the Veteran's employment records need to be obtained and provided by OPM.

The Board has remanded the cases due to additional development being needed, including for a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's hypertension, right knee disability, left hand rash, and right ankle disorder.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings on PTSD, epicondylitis of the elbows, left knee strain with meniscal tear, and IBS with GERD are being remanded due to additional VA medical records that have not yet been reviewed by the AOJ.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and right knee disability were denied. The Board found no nexus between the disabilities and service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied both claims.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his service connection claim for a left knee disability is granted. The Board has also remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of any current left knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of a right knee condition in service or related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence not having been considered by the AOJ.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for effective dates prior to January 26, 2017, for service connection of left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints, migraine headaches, and tinea pedis.,The Board also granted service connection for persistent depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right wrist disabilities are granted. The claim for compensable ratings for bilateral shin splints is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder and knee scar disability is granted a 20 percent evaluation, effective September 1, 2014. The right shoulder scar is denied an evaluation greater than 10 percent since February 10, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a scheduled examination. The matter will be adjudicated on the evidence of record if the Veteran fails to report for the rescheduled examination.

The Board has determined that further development is needed due to the inadequacy of prior VA examinations and the need for an addendum opinion regarding functional loss during flare-ups and after repeated use over time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence to adjudicate these claims. The Veteran is advised that he should be afforded a VA examination to determine if his current knee conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disability and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to insufficient development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically his right and left knee conditions, have been rated as noncompensable due to the presence of painful motion with limited flexion and extension. The Board has denied increased ratings for these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for various forms of arthritis in multiple joints, including the right and left hands, wrists, knees, shoulders, feet, and back. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are related to normal wear and tear due to aging rather than exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee chondromalacia are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities.