Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his inability to perform physical tasks, which is considered in equipoise with the evidence.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability is granted. The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is also remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee condition, lumbar spine condition, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and sleep apnea to allow for further development. The issues include determining the severity of the left knee condition, whether a lumbar spine condition is related to service, whether PFB was incurred in service or aggravated by a pre-existing condition, and whether sleep apnea is related to service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease status post patellar tendon repair was denied. The Board also denied the claim for TDIU due to service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left knee arthroscopy scars are rated at 10 percent since August 2, 2017. The scars are painful and meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating under Code 7804.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability was denied as the weight of evidence did not support a finding that his current condition is related to active duty or service-connected disabilities.,Claims for increased ratings were also denied, with the Board finding no evidence supporting higher ratings based on the Veteran's symptoms and medical records.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection and increased rating claims for various hand, knee, ankle, and tinnitus conditions is being remanded due to procedural issues under the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act (AMA).

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion and a noncompensable evaluation for right knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbosacral strain, left knee radiculopathy, and instability. The appeal for sleep apnea is also being remanded due to a lack of consideration of relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination and consideration of additional medical records.

The Board has restored a 50 percent rating for limitation of extension of the left knee, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the October 2015 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, claimed as broken tail bone, is granted. The claims for service connection for a right arm disorder, left arm disorder, left knee disorder, and residuals from double hernia surgery (claimed as a right testicle disorder) are dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's right knee DJD has been rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion and denied a higher rating. The issue regarding limitation of extension was also denied.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for left hip and left knee disabilities, as well as the TDIU claim due to inadequate rationale in the previous VA examination and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational background.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and gastritis due to potential aggravation by her service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with gastritis, which she attributes to anxiety related to military sexual assault (MST).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no persuasive evidence to support the claim and concluding that any current left knee disabilities were not caused by or related to his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions have not met the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.,The Veteran's left and right knees are currently rated at 10 percent each for limitation of flexion, with no compensable ratings for extension or instability.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and development of evidence related to the Veteran's left knee disability, right and left ankle Achilles' tendon ruptures, obstructive sleep apnea, and asthma.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, knee, shoulder, and spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.