Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's heart disability is granted as service-connected, while his left shoulder, right hand, left hand, right knee, and left knee disabilities are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee retropatellar pain syndrome, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis. The case is remanded to assign disability ratings and determine if a TDIU before May 1, 2018, is warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and insufficient reasoning in the prior VA opinion regarding service connection for a right knee disability, including as secondary to service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative joint disease has been granted a maximum 50 percent rating for limitation of extension since May 9, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for right foot plantar fasciitis and a separate rating of 20 percent for left knee symptomatic cartilage. The issues have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's DIC claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as he did not meet the qualifications for this benefit due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the required duration of total disability ratings. The cause of death claim is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 17, 2020. The Board granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to sleep apnea, including its relationship to service-connected conditions and a possible nasal fracture. Additional evidence is needed for proper evaluation.

The Veteran's left knee instability and dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion are rated at 20 percent each. The Veteran is also remanded for further evaluation to determine if he should receive higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee arthritis and related issues due to inadequate examination findings, including an inconsistency in assessing additional functional loss during flares.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a left hip disability has been granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral shoulders arthritis, bilateral feet gout, and bilateral lower extremities disabilities (hips, knees).

The Veteran's appeal of a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to September 1, 2020, and in excess of 30 percent from November 1, 2021 for a right knee condition has been dismissed. The issues of service connection for tinnitus and a left knee condition have been remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disability are inadequate, requiring further remand to obtain a new VA examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric and orthopedic conditions have produced significant impairment, making it inconsistent with obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment throughout the appeal period. The Board has granted an extraschedular TDIU prior to August 23, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to scheduling issues with VA examinations.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected bilateral knee disabilities is 50%, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his inability to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his right knee disability was caused or aggravated by service-connected left knee synovitis, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's right knee, left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities have been granted a 100% evaluation for the period from August 7, 2018 to August 7, 2019. The Veteran's initial evaluations for his bilateral knee and hip disabilities remain in appellate status.,The Veteran's DMII and CAD are remanded issues as they may be secondary to his service-connected knee, hip, and ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a thyroid disability was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted, but the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent.,Service connection for gout is denied as there is no evidence it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a back disability is denied due to lack of evidence that it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a prostate disability is denied as there is no evidence it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a kidney disability is denied as there is no evidence it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a left ankle disability is denied due to lack of evidence that it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for a right knee disability is denied due to lack of evidence that it began during active service or is related to a service-connected condition.,Service connection for headaches and obstructive sleep apnea are granted as they are caused by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.,Effective dates prior to July 9, 2015, for bilateral hearing loss and left knee osteoarthritis are denied.