Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and gastrointestinal disorder have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals in a signed statement.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on left knee and total knee disabilities, as well as a compensable rating for residual scar, have been withdrawn. The appeal for service connection for heart disability has been denied due to lack of evidence of herbicide agent exposure. The appeal for service connection for lung disability is remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or the IVDS Formula.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sinusitis, back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability due to outstanding VA treatment records that may include relevant evidence.

The Board has found insufficient evidence to decide the Veteran's claim for service connection for muscular atrophy of the back and/or knees. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a current diagnosis of muscular atrophy, whether it is related to active service, or if it is attributable to a currently service-connected disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding increased ratings for left and right knee conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including sleep apnea, an acquired psychiatric condition, a left knee condition, residuals of a left hamstring rupture, and a right ankle condition. The decision also notes that the Veteran was denied service connection for syncope.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, and left knee disorders due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and right leg disorders due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for SNRA of the left knee has been granted. The appeal is also remanded for a new VA examination to determine if an increased rating for DJD and specially adapted housing (SAH) are warranted.

Service connection for a right shoulder disability is granted. An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus, to include on an extraschedular basis, is denied. Service connection for a right knee disability and a compensable disability rating for service-connected scar of the left foot are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, right ankle instability, and left ankle disabilities. The low back, right shoulder, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder, and he is granted a separate rating for instability of the left knee. He also receives an increased rating for his left knee degenerative arthritis and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee retropatellar pain syndrome with patellofemoral malalignment was denied. A separate rating of 10 percent for residuals of meniscectomy of the right knee is granted from June 25, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his left knee disability has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for left knee instability from December 27, 2019 to September 21, 2020 and for limitation of flexion prior to June 29, 2021. A separate rating was also denied for limitation of extension as of June 29, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and tinnitus, are preventing him from working in his usual occupation. The Board is remanding the case to consider whether TDIU should be granted on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeals regarding various conditions and ratings have been withdrawn by the Veteran's representative.,No new evidence has been received to reopen a claim for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including diabetes mellitus, right knee arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, and shoulder dislocation. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to inextricably intertwined increased rating claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and development of his claim for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.