Knee decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the left knee condition preexisted service and was not aggravated by it.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and right rotator cuff injury due to incomplete record development, including missing service treatment records and unavailability of post-service medical records. The Veteran's reported shoulder surgery in December 1988 is also under investigation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his adjustment disorder with depressed mood, lumbosacral spondylosis, and various knee and foot conditions, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during active service and denied his claim. The Board also found remand necessary for additional examinations to assess the severity of his knee and ankle conditions.

The Veteran's appeal seeking higher ratings for his left and right knee disabilities has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of representation.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disability, hemorrhoids, and bilateral great toenail dystrophy due to incomplete treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to contact Bassett Army Community Hospital to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee and left patella disabilities due to a lack of recent VA examination, which is necessary to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis has been remanded for further examination and rating consideration. Other issues on appeal, including those related to the right knee, elbows, bladder tone, sphincter control, and frequent urination, are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and potential inextricably intertwined issues. The claims will be addressed again after additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee meniscus injury residuals, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service and is more likely proximate to a non-service-related motor vehicle accident.

The Board has granted service connection for back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Veteran's current disabilities are rated at the maximum available rating of 100%.,For the scars secondary to left ankle degenerative arthritis, the claim is denied as there is no evidence that they are painful or unstable.

The Board has decided that the claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to a service-connected right knee disability needs further development and is therefore remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IBS, cervical spine disability, right and left knee disabilities, upper respiratory disability (allergic rhinitis and sinusitis), hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for a gastrointestinal disability other than IBS and a right wrist disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability, and thus denied both issues.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to determine the relationship between the Veteran's current bilateral knee conditions and his military service, specifically Osgood-Schlatter disease.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for low back disability, bilateral sensitive feet, sleep apnea, hypertension, right knee disability, and left knee disability. These issues are now remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claim for an initial rating for left knee patellofemoral syndrome due to insufficient examination findings and lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine, back, and asthma disabilities are related to his service-connected bilateral knee and/or bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection for left knee disability, including his claimed osteoarthritis. The decision is pending further investigation and examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted, but the Board finds that his current arthritis does not meet the criteria to establish service connection as it is more likely due to normal aging rather than in-service injury.