Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify the Veteran's history regarding his meniscus condition and to ensure proper evaluation of his service-connected left knee disability. The case will be remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's death was not recognized for DIC and death pension benefits due to the marriage occurring too late. The appellant is being remanded to clarify whether she wishes to proceed as a substitute party or solely for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his right knee disabilities has been denied. His claims for higher evaluations and compensable ratings for his right knee conditions have also been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion and need for updated VA treatment records. The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, but he seeks a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for gastritis, hypertension, hypertensive cardiovascular heart disease, and bilateral knee disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) as there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination in determining the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability, instability, and scars. The claims are back before the Board for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's Barrett's esophagus was granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected reactive arthritis (previously diagnosed as Reiter's syndrome) of the left ankle. The other issues were remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and right shoulder conditions due to inadequate examination reports and failure to address relevant evidence. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence received, including STRs and military personnel records. The issues are related to bilateral knee conditions, right ankle condition, back condition (DDD), and bilateral foot condition.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, a low back disability, and a left knee disability due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence of such disabilities during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to determine if any of the Veteran's conditions are related to his service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left hand/thumb disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and right knee disorder due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology. The decision on the left foot disorder claim is pending.

The Board has remanded the cases for further medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right foot condition, left knee disability, and hypertension. The VA will need to provide new opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to his active service, including exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for generalized arthralgias in the shoulders, elbows, knees, hands, thumbs, and lumbar spine is being remanded due to his failure to attend a scheduled VA examination. The Board will schedule another VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, as well as lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and sciatic nerve radiculopathy, were denied. Separate noncompensable evaluations have been assigned for limitation of extension motion in the knees since February 25, 2022.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of back and knee disabilities on a direct basis, as the Veteran's contentions and lay and medical evidence suggest these conditions may be related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to dress or undress himself, keep himself clean and presentable, feed himself without assistance, attend to the wants of nature, or require regular care from another person. As such, he is not in need of aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal for all issues.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee disabilities, as well as the claim for service connection for a herniated disc on the right side secondary to the left side. The Veteran's current symptoms are encompassed by his existing service-connected L5-S1 herniated disc.