Knee decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine condition, bilateral knee conditions, stomach condition to include GERD, hypertension, COPD to include as due to asbestos exposure, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for additional development including obtaining medical opinions on the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (left total knee replacement with traumatic arthritis and scar; left hip replacement with scar) are found to be insufficient for the need of aid and attendance/housebound status. The case is remanded for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, increased rating for migraines, and initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability due to insufficient medical evidence on file.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for his back and right knee disabilities have been granted, but the appeals for higher ratings are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was dismissed due to withdrawal of the claim. The Board also remanded cases regarding left knee strain and medial-lateral instability.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle condition due to service-connected bilateral knee disability.,Service connection was granted for the low back condition as being due to service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete VA examinations and need for additional information regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is not provided with a VA examination to determine if his current disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from March 1, 2014. The claim for earlier effective date of SMC based on housebound status is denied as the Veteran was not permanently confined to his home prior to January 23, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination reports and failure to account for the Veteran's medical history concerning flare-ups.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the spine prior to May 6, 2021. The Veteran is not entitled to higher ratings for his service-connected lower back disability or knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the issues of service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis is granted, but his claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for insomnia, CFS, low back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to new evidence. However, these claims are being remanded as there is insufficient evidence on file to fully evaluate the Veteran's symptoms and determine their etiology.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for new examinations and evaluations of his service-connected disabilities. The issues include painful scars, torn meniscus, left knee strain with limitation of flexion, left knee strain with limitation of extension, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity, and degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and compression fractures of T8-T10, status post lumbar fusion.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 20% rating effective November 13, 2020. The left ankle disability remains rated at 20%. Both disabilities are currently assigned the maximum available ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions regarding his knee and elbow conditions.