Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as her service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disorder secondary to his right knee disability was denied. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine and radiculopathy, as well as the issue of service connection for hypertension were remanded.

The Veteran's back and left knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis, are granted service connection. A rating of 20 percent is granted for his right ankle disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including an ACL rupture and meniscus repair, is rated at 20 percent from September 13, 2007 to October 26, 2007. The rating for the left knee instability has been granted since February 1, 2008.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's knee disorders due to inadequate examinations and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

Service connection for high cholesterol is dismissed.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than April 17, 2017, for service connection for status post left shoulder joint replacement (non-dominant), including degenerative arthritis, is denied.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than April 17, 2017, for service connection for a left shoulder surgical scar is denied.,Entitlement to an effective date earlier than April 17, 2017, for service connection for hypertension is denied.,New and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a knee disability. The petition to reopen is denied.,Service connection for sleep apnea is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete records, including recent physical therapy records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded several issues related to his right ankle, cervical spine, left hip, left knee, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot pes cavus. The claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right breast disability are remanded.

The appeal for increased ratings and effective date is remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran needs new VA examinations to assess the severity of his cervical spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a right knee disorder. The case is remanded for further development on several issues, including entitlement to increased ratings and service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, specifically addressing secondary and aggravation theories. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are believed to be contributing factors.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is claimed as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The Board has decided that a remand is necessary due to inadequate reasoning in the March 2019 VA medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the knees clearly and unmistakably pre-existed service. The examiner is asked to provide a clear opinion on this matter.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for various conditions, including left ulnar neuropathy (claimed as a wrist condition), muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, right ankle disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty and service treatment records.

The Veteran's bilateral hand essential tremors were granted service connection on a direct basis. The issues of malaria, immunodeficiency disorder, chronic bronchitis, left thumb sprain, right ankle strain, left ankle strain, right knee strain, left knee strain with limitation of extension, thoracic spine degenerative disc disease and lumbar strain, left hip strain, and post traumatic headaches are all pending.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is being remanded for a new medical opinion to determine if it is related to service or his service-connected hepatitis C. The issues of higher initial ratings for various joint disabilities and radiculopathy are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence submitted after a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities has been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional development is needed due to insufficient nexus opinions provided by VA examiners.