Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at a 60 percent rating, but no higher. The Board has remanded the case for additional information regarding his employment since December 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for interstitial lung disease due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, such as Agent Orange. The claims for back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence. The claim for low back disability remains denied as new and material evidence was not received.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee strains, finding that the current 10 percent disability ratings adequately reflect her symptoms.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as service connection for a lumbar spine disorder (including lumbago and strain/lumbar pain) and bilateral leg scars. The issues of service connection for a right ankle disorder remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral spine, cervical spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information regarding his exposure to hazardous substances and materials during service. The Veteran is also required to undergo examinations for his cervical spine, lumbar spine injury, left knee, and right knee conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at the maximum available rating of 30 percent, but no higher. The appeal is denied.

This decision dismisses the appeal for a compensable rating for hearing loss. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent since December 1, 2011. The right shoulder strain was initially rated at 30 percent prior to November 25, 2019, and then denied from that date forward. Right knee strain has been rated at 10 percent overall. Limited flexion of the right knee is rated as degenerative arthritis, while instability is separately rated.,reasoning for summary sentence: The Veteran's conditions were evaluated based on their current manifestations without considering prior ratings or any changes in disability status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee conditions and a psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.,The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for her right wrist condition is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as part of the rating question, due to inadequate VA examination opinions.,,

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability may be related to his service-connected right knee disability, and thus remands for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present left knee disability. The Veteran is also remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his depressive disorder, back disability, radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), and right knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and has remanded the issue of right lower extremity arthritis.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete or undelivered correspondence, and for obtaining additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for left knee arthroplasty is denied.,The effective date earlier than August 6, 2018 for the grant of a 100 percent rating for left knee arthroplasty is denied.,The Veteran was granted TDIU prior to November 11, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to incomplete information about his National Guard and Reserve service, the need for medical opinions regarding spinal disorders, hearing loss/tinnitus, left ankle disorder, and bilateral knee disorders, as well as further development of employment records.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claims for service connection for a right knee disability and left knee disability, including as due to the right knee disability, is granted.,Service connection for a right knee disability is granted. Service connection for a left knee disability, to include as due to the right knee disability, is remanded.

The Veteran's right ankle disability, left knee instability, and right knee instability have been granted increased ratings. Service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD has also been granted.