Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hemorrhoids are related to his active duty service and granted service connection for this condition. The back and knee conditions have been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at 30 percent disabling, but the Board finds that neither condition warrants a higher rating.,Prior to June 27, 2020, the Veteran was found unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee instability was granted an increased rating of 30 percent effective from August 14, 2014. He received separate ratings for a meniscal tear and limitation of flexion during the appeal period.,The Veteran's right knee ankylosis remains denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher than 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee disability, hearing loss, and tinnitus, have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment since October 5, 2017. The Board has granted a TDIU effective that date.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected scar, right thigh and knee was denied as the scars did not meet the criteria for a 10% rating under Diagnostic Code 7802 due to their small size and lack of underlying soft tissue damage.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for right knee degenerative arthritis, limitation of flexion, since January 5, 2021, is granted with a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's residuals of a fracture of the right fifth metatarsal were granted an initial 10 percent disability rating. Service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral hip disabilities was denied as they were not caused or aggravated by service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities due to deficiencies in prior examinations and lack of retroactive opinions. The case is now pending for further development.

The Board has granted a separate 20% disability rating for the Veteran's right knee meniscectomy with dislocated, semilunar cartilage. The other claims for increased ratings have been resolved in full.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected right knee condition, which has rendered him unemployable.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine disability, lower back disability, and right knee disability (degenerative arthritis) as these conditions are found to be at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, and the issue of bilateral knee conditions is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee strain with IT band syndrome due to limitation of motion was denied. The Board found that the disability did not meet the schedular criteria for a higher evaluation, as it did not result in actual or functional flexion limited to 30 degrees including due to painful motion, with repetitive use, and during flare-ups; limitation of extension to 10 degrees or more including due to painful motion, with repetitive use, and during flare-ups; dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint; symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage; ankylosis; impairment of the tibia and fibula, or genu recurvatum. The appeal for TDIU was also denied as the Veteran did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of left ankle burn, left knee disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and hearing impairment are all granted. The claim for residuals of a spider bite is remanded.

The Board dismissed all appeals as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal in February 2022.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a left knee disability, finding that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral knee and lumbar spine disabilities and his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The Veteran is requested to undergo a VA examination to determine if there is any aggravation of these conditions by his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability has worsened since the last VA examination in February 2017, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of her service-connected condition.

The Veteran is granted TDIU effective April 7, 2021. Prior to that date, he was employed as a payroll technician and could not continue due to his service-connected disabilities.