Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of increased rating and TDIU due to the service-connected lumbar spine disability. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination, and the issues will be remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee meniscal tear. The issues of service connection for right knee disability, hypertension, skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma), and gastroesophageal reflux disorder are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral foot disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and low back disorder due to inconsistencies in the examination reports and insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or financial assistance for purchasing an automobile and adaptive equipment. The Board finds that his disabilities, while significant, do not qualify him for these benefits based on the specific requirements outlined in VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability is remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for traumatic arthritis, left knee is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran has current sensorineural hearing loss and pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor bumps/tinea barbae) but remanded to obtain a VA examination for his hearing loss.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and left knee disorder have been granted service connection. The Veteran is assigned a 20% rating for his left lower extremity radiculopathy, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a bilateral eye condition and left knee condition. Service connection is granted for left foot, right foot, low back, and lower extremity nerve conditions (right lower extremity radiculopathy).

The Veteran's service connection claim for left hip condition has been reopened, and the Board finds that his left hip condition is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected left knee condition. The reduction in the disability rating for left knee from 30% to 10% was not proper, and a 30% rating for left knee is restored effective February 1, 2018. A separate 10% rating for left knee instability is granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee and shoulder disabilities have been remanded due to the lack of service treatment records. The Board finds that new evidence has reopened the claims, but further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities caused or aggravated his right shoulder disability. The TTR claim is also remanded as it depends on the outcome of the service connection claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate VA examination and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability and back disability. The claims are being returned to the RO for readjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities of the left ankle, knee, and hip do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU rating. The Board finds that they are not shown to be of such nature and severity as to render him unable to secure and maintain regular substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities. The issues of entitlement to service connection for these conditions are now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, internal hemorrhoids, TBI, and headaches with migraine features have been granted service connection.,An increased rating of 10 percent has been granted for the left and right knee disabilities since July 7, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including DJD, instability, dislocated semilunar cartilage, and limitation of flexion, have been granted increased ratings. The reduction in disability rating for both knees from 30% to 10% was not proper.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for his right knee condition, specifically instability, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an examination.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were granted initial disability ratings of 20 percent prior to June 22, 2019.,Separate 10 percent disability ratings for right and left knee instability were also granted prior to June 22, 2019.

The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is granted. The claims for bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence on the direct service connection basis.