Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability was reopened and granted. The appeal regarding severance of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, as well as the associated peripheral neuropathy claims were remanded due to conflicting medical evidence on whether the Veteran has diabetes.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the lack of a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, sleep apnea, and mental health disability (depression and anxiety).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right shoulder disability and left knee disability due to incomplete service treatment records. The missing records may contain evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of the disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability ratings due to incomplete records and need for updated VA examinations. The issues of TDIU have also been raised by the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and lack of adequate statement of reasons or bases. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg disability, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, is now before VA again.

The Veteran's claim for an initial 20 percent rating, but no higher, for left knee recurrent subluxation with osteoarthritis and instability is granted. The claim for a separate initial 20 percent rating, but no higher, for left knee disability with limitation of flexion is also granted.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is granted service connection. The right hip, left knee, and left leg disorders are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service connection claims for left knee laxity and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded several claims, including service connection for tinnitus, right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and a right lower extremity disorder. The Veteran's representative argued that the Veteran should be awarded a rating increase effective January 2017 based on his symptoms of GERD. The Board found a 30% rating is warranted for GERD as of the date of the increased rating claim in January 2018, but not earlier.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are being remanded for an updated VA examination to assess the current severity of his disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further consideration, including review of additional evidence submitted by the Veteran and his attorney. The issues include reconsideration of TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's right ankle disability claim is remanded as the RO failed to consider his request for rescheduling due to homelessness, resulting in a denial without proper consideration of this issue.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (polysubstance abuse disorder and depression) claim is remanded as new and material evidence was not considered, and an additional VA examination is needed.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability claim is remanded for a contemporaneous VA examination to determine the current severity of his condition.,The Veteran's left knee limitation of flexion claim is remanded for a contemporaneous VA examination and determination of whether the effective date should be earlier than April 14, 2015.,The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis claim is remanded to determine if the severance of the separate rating was proper.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their specific limitations of motion. The Board has granted higher ratings for the flexion limitations, but denied any rating in excess of 10 percent for extension or instability.,A separate claim for secondary service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted service connection. The Board has remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the other issues, including secondary service connection.

The Veteran's right knee surgical scars are now rated at 20 percent effective March 11, 2021. Service connection is granted for a right ankle disability and a right shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that new evidence has been added to the file and requires remand for initial review by the AOJ. The claims of service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea are being remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including erectile dysfunction, headache, diabetes mellitus, type II, bilateral foot disability, skeletal arthritis, depression, muscle damage to left side, pelvis injury, bilateral eye disability, low back disability, TBI, right hip and knee disabilities, GERD, and bilateral kidney disability. The remand includes obtaining VA treatment records from 1988 to present and scheduling a new examination for the right hip.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions as the Veteran died before a decision could be made.