Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right knee meniscal tear, left knee meniscal tear with limitation of motion, left knee meniscal tear with instability, chronic right ankle strain, and scar, left side of head are all remanded for further examination and rating.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The issues include PTSD, depression, low back disability, left knee disability, polymyalgia, DVT of the legs, pulmonary embolism, and hernia.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosed deviated nasal septum, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, or right knee disability at any time during the period on appeal. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is less likely than not related to his active duty service. These issues are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection and increased rating for various conditions, as well as the issue of whether the appellant's bad conduct discharge is a bar to VA benefits. The character of discharge issue must be addressed first.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of all diagnoses during the appeal period.,Service connection for bilateral knee disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination considering in-service stressors and current symptoms.,Service connection for bilateral hip disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination considering in-service stressors and current symptoms.,Service connection for back disability is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and consideration of all relevant medical records.

For the period prior to December 29, 2021, an evaluation in excess of 0 percent for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,For the period beginning December 29, 2021, an increased rating of 30 percent disabling for bilateral hearing loss is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability (to include arthritis) is remanded.,Entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability (to include arthritis) is remanded.

The Veteran's right knee strain and slight instability are each rated at 10 percent, resulting in a total rating of 20 percent for these conditions. The higher initial rating is granted for the right knee strain.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional private treatment records and a VA medical opinion regarding convalescence after surgery.

The Veteran's right knee scar condition is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has granted a remand for further examination to assess his right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right knee conditions, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee injury is reopened, but the appeal is remanded to determine if his current left knee disability is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities is remanded due to the need for new examinations to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of VA examination, despite positive nexus opinions from private doctors. The Veteran is asked to be examined by VA to determine if his knee disabilities are related to in-service falls on slippery mess hall floors.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was granted, with a separate 20 percent rating for instability and a 10 percent rating for limitation of motion. The effective date is not specified.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis due to an inadequate June 2019 examination. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from August 13, 2014 through September 25, 2016 rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's ratings for his service-connected knee and polyneuropathy disabilities have been reduced, but the Board finds that these reductions were not proper due to a failure to consider all applicable regulations.,The Veteran is also seeking increased ratings for his service-connected knee and polyneuropathy disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, and his left knee disabilities are each rated at 10 percent. The appeals for increased ratings have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee and right shoulder disabilities due to changes in the record showing potential diagnoses related to service. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any diagnosed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,Service connection has been granted for both left and right knee conditions, as they are considered presumptive under VA regulations.