Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right knee disability is presumed to have been incurred in service due to its association with a service-connected back disability. The sinusitis and rhinitis are presumed to have been incurred during active duty.,New evidence has reopened the claims for right knee and sinus disabilities, but further review is needed as the Veteran's current conditions may be related to his service.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to earlier effective dates for service connection of hearing loss and tinnitus, as the Veteran withdrew these claims. The appeal is also dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a skin disability. The reasons include the need to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient examination and lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his service-connected back disability and post-service work history.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, including the claims of service connection for bilateral feet, bilateral knees, heart disorder, and neck disorder.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the bilateral hips, knees, and shoulders as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The claims for increased evaluations of lumbar strain and right knee disabilities, as well as the claim for service connection for migraines, are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and a need to assess functional loss during flare-ups.

Service connection is granted for a psychiatric condition, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea.,The left knee and left hip conditions are not currently diagnosed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for joint pain, headaches, chronic fatigue, OSA, and gastrointestinal disorder are being remanded due to new evidence received. The claim for short-term memory loss is also being reopened.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted. The Board has remanded the remaining issues for further development.

The Board has found that a new VA examination is needed due to the inadequacy of the previous examination report. The issues on appeal are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected acne vulgaris has been rated at a 60 percent disability rating since September 20, 2009. Service connection for left and right knee disabilities is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lower back disability, right foot condition, left foot condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to incomplete records. The appellant's complete service treatment records need to be obtained, including any from Fort Chaffee, Arkansas.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for limitation of flexion of the left knee, finding that the Veteran's flexion was at worst to 35 degrees and did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pes planus, claimed as flat feet. The claims of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for asthma and service connection for right knee and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at a 30 percent disability rating throughout the period on appeal, effective from when she first reported severe symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral wrist pain, excluding fibromyalgia and upper extremity neuropathy.,The Board also denied service connection for bilateral hand/finger tremors/pain, excluding fibromyalgia and upper extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran is granted TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate due to service-connected disabilities, effective July 19, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disorders.,Claims for service connection for a left fifth toe disorder secondary to fracture with chronic numbness and for a compensable rating for a left ring finger disorder secondary to fracture with chronic swelling have been withdrawn.