Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate retrospective medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability prior to January 27, 2015. The claim will be further evaluated with new examination and opinion.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for service connection on all issues, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his bilateral knee, shoulder, and lumbar spine disabilities. The VA will provide additional examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a need for addendum opinions that reflect the correct standard of review as established by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Lynch v. McDonough.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee DJD, symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage with meniscus tear, and lateral instability due to lack of substantial compliance with a previous remand directive.

The Veteran's total left knee replacement rating was restored from 60% to 30%.,Lumbar spine degenerative disc disease service connection was granted with an effective date of January 21, 2015.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis and instability have been rated, with a rating of 20 percent from June 5, 2020 to October 5, 2020. The rating is denied for higher ratings prior to this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations in previous remands, which did not address all of the Veteran's contentions regarding carelessness or negligence by VA personnel.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and gout have been denied. The Veteran's left knee and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome claims are also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to incomplete medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board denied increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees prior to June 27, 2017. The case was remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including right knee disability, left knee disability, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and a right hip disability. The issues are related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Board has determined that the VA opinion did not address whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability caused or aggravated his obesity, and whether his obesity is a substantial factor in causing his left knee condition. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disorders are being remanded for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a respiratory disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss. The diagnoses are COPD with emphysema and chronic bronchitis, right knee osteoarthritis, and bilateral hearing loss respectively.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 30 percent, effective December 29, 2011. The claim for service connection of a left knee disorder as secondary to the right knee disability has been granted.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, degenerative arthritis, and chondromalacia patella was granted a 20 percent rating from June 28, 2013, and a 50 percent rating from December 20, 2017. The right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, degenerative arthritis, and chondromalacia patella was granted a 20 percent rating from June 28, 2013, and a 40 percent rating from December 20, 2017.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right finger disability has been withdrawn.,The claim for an effective date earlier than January 12, 2015, for the grant of a 10 percent rating for right finger disability is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations requested in the June 2021 remand were not conducted and is therefore remanding these matters for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for DDD of the lumbar spine prior to May 31, 2017, and his TDIU claim prior to that date were both denied. The Board found insufficient evidence to support higher ratings or entitlement to TDIU.