Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee condition, secondary to his right knee and pes planus conditions, is remanded. The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee condition is also remanded.

The Board has dismissed all issues of entitlement to increased ratings for various conditions as the Veteran passed away before a final decision could be made.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, bilateral leg disorder (sciatica), left knee disorder, and right ankle disorder. The Veteran's appeal was remanded for further action on the issues of secondary service connection for bilateral leg disorder and right knee disorder.,Service connection for a low back disorder is denied as there is no evidence of chronicity during or within one year following separation from active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims due to inadequate VA examinations and issues related to effective dates.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification of the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, including instability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, lower extremity radiculopathy, shoulder, and back conditions due to lack of evidence showing an in-service injury or event.,The Veteran did not report any knee issues during service. His current degenerative changes are attributed to post-service activities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been granted. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for various conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted a rating of 60 percent from October 19, 2015 to September 18, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, finding that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorders and skin cancer. The remand includes obtaining a new VA medical opinion to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's conditions, including considering his in-service reports of symptoms and duty-related stressors.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and his claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the knee condition from April 9, 2010 to March 11, 2014, and did not meet the criteria for SMC.

The Veteran's somatic symptoms disorder with depression and anxiety, right ear hearing loss, bilateral shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia, bilateral ankle strain, and left foot condition (various diagnoses) have all been granted service connection.,An initial compensable rating for a post appendectomy scar has not been met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his knee and back conditions, have resulted in a loss of use of his lower extremities, affecting balance and propulsion. The Board has determined that he is eligible for specially adapted housing due to the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to lack of current VA treatment records and for an updated audiological examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, right shoulder, left ring finger, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship between the claimed conditions and her active duty service.,Service records show recurrent urinary tract infections during her active duty but these resolved by 2010. The Veteran does not currently suffer from chronic UTIs.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and inextricability of issues. The TDIU claim is being deferred until all other pending claims are adjudicated.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, and left shoulder condition due to the need for further examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings of his left knee disability, with the exception of a grant of a 20 percent rating for limitation of flexion from July 19, 2017. The Veteran also received a TDIU effective as of that date.