Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for right elbow olecranon bursitis and arthritis, as well as right knee arthritis. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injuries and his current symptoms.

The appeal is granted as the character of the Veteran's discharge is not a bar to VA benefits for claims based on the period of service from November 12, 2002, to November 11, 2006.

The Veteran has withdrawn all appeals, including those related to increased disability ratings and service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities, as there is insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease was denied. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for a heart disability.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, effective throughout the entire appeal period. The decision also remanded the claim for entitlement to TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, right knee disorder, and residuals of a right foot injury due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to active service.,There is no persuasive evidence showing that the Veteran's tinnitus, right knee disorder, or right foot injury had onset during her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities, including total knee arthroplasty and meniscectomy residuals, are found to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment after February 1, 2020.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease is now rated at 20 percent effective December 6, 2019. She also received a 10 percent rating for her right knee instability.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as residuals of a nasal fracture. The claim for dental disability (loss of three teeth) is also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for respiratory disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), headaches, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral ankle disability. The claims for bilateral elbow and wrist disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's left knee instability, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence in some areas, including medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The Board also found that there is no current diagnosis of a left knee disorder, bilateral foot disorders, bilateral hip disorders, eye disorder, or skeletal arthritis. Service connection for headaches was also denied.

The Board has determined that additional information is required to adjudicate the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remanded them. The issues of TDIU are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and a rating higher than 10 percent for his left knee disability are denied. However, he is granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee throughout the period under consideration. The remaining claims (for GERD, cervical strain, and sleep disorder) are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right knee conditions and remands the cases for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, including osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to her in-service knee problems.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were rated at 10 percent for the period from February 7, 2021. The Board denied increased ratings as her knee flexion was limited to no worse than 40 degrees during flare-ups and extension was limited to no worse than 5 degrees.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is remanded. The Board referred the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities to the AOJ for initial adjudication. Remand is also required to obtain updated VA and/or private treatment records related to his knee disabilities, and SSA medical records.