Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, bilateral hip, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination findings regarding right knee instability. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability is now pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee conditions, as secondary to her service-connected lumbosacral strain. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's right knee condition, including instability and painful scars, is currently rated based on the severity of his symptoms.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for left knee meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis with instability during the period prior to February 24, 2009 is granted. For the period after February 24, 2009, a higher rating of more than 20 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease with facet arthropathy and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability began during active service and is granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, stroke, and hypertension as a result of the Veteran's prostatectomy in March 2008 due to lack of causation.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as status post arthroscopy with partial meniscectomy, has resulted in post-meniscal surgery residual pain. The Board finds that a single 10 percent rating for post-meniscal surgery residuals with painful movement of flexion is the most appropriate rating at this time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis and Baker's cyst is currently rated at 10 percent. A separate rating of 20 percent for instability from May 9, 2014 to January 31, 2017 was granted, while a rating of 30 percent on and after February 1, 2017 was also granted.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with prior remand directives and thus requires another remand for the specified actions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including osteoarthritis and a medial meniscal tear, was granted ratings for limitation of flexion, extension, and instability from March 26, 2012, to March 23, 2016. A TDIU rating was also granted during this period.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his service-connected left knee strain is denied. The VA has assigned a 10 percent rating for painful motion, and the evidence does not support an increase in this rating.

The Board granted a rating of 20 percent for left knee chondromalacia based on instability as of February 7, 2021. Prior to that date, the Veteran's condition was rated at 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, finding that they are at least as likely as not related to in-service motor vehicle accidents.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee, right hip, and lumbar spine conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for his right and left knee disorders have been reopened, but the Board has not assigned a specific rating or effective date as these issues are still pending.

The Board has remanded all service connection claims for bilateral knee conditions, tailbone condition, bilateral foot conditions, right hip condition, back condition, and right shoulder condition due to missing military personnel records and incomplete STRs. The Veteran's lay assertions of in-service causation are also considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.