Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to additional development and new medical opinions being required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's lumbar sprain/strain is granted service connection, while her bilateral knee disability and hearing loss are denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and lumbosacral spine disability are not related to active service. The claims for a psychiatric disability and bilateral knee disability, including as due to a lumbosacral spine disability, are remanded for further development.

Service connection is granted for a right knee disability, but only subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.,Service connection is denied for shin splints of both legs (right and left).,Right hip and left hip disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.,Hand disability (to include a cyst) and back disability are also remanded due to insufficient evidence in the current record.

The Veteran's left knee PFPS was granted a 20 percent rating since October 19, 2010 for limitation of flexion. A separate 10 percent evaluation is granted on and after March 5, 2018 for limitation of extension. The right knee PFPS has been denied ratings higher than 30 percent since March 5, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims and rating for his knee replacements. The Veteran will need to provide additional information about the competency of certain VA examiners.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no direct or secondary nexus to her active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II (DMII), hypertension, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The claims are also remanded for further examination regarding his right wrist disorder, bilateral ankle disorders, right hip disorder, and left knee disorder.

The Veteran's right knee disorder and meniscal tear have been rated based on their current manifestations. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding a separate rating for restless leg syndrome as secondary to the service-connected right knee disorders.

The Veteran's migraines are rated at a maximum of 30 percent, which is the highest schedular rating under DC 8100. The Board found that the Veteran had characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on average once to thrice a month over the last several months.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was not rated higher than 10 percent from July 11, 2018, to November 9, 2021. The Board found that the Veteran had pain on manipulation and use of the feet during this period.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and missing records. The issues of increased evaluations for low back strain, right knee meniscectomy with degenerative joint disease, and TDIU prior to June 14, 2011 are being addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee disability, neck disability, sleep apnea, sarcoidosis, renal disease with hypertension, and posttraumatic stress disorder, have caused him to be unemployable prior to December 20, 2019. The Board has remanded the case for further consideration by VA's Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's back, right knee, and left shoulder disabilities are granted as they were aggravated by service.,The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is denied because he does not have a disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as it was caused by his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of supporting evidence and the need for VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hip disability, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and right shoulder disability due to new evidence not being considered in a subsequent Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal through his attorney, stating satisfaction with his current rating and effective dates.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various spinal and joint disabilities, including radiculopathy. The appeal is being returned to the AOJ for additional development of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for cervical spine with intervertebral disc syndrome has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right ankle degenerative arthritis has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left ankle degenerative arthritis has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis has been granted.,The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis has been granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for the issues of a rating higher than 10 percent for a low back disability, a compensable rating for a low back scar, a compensable rating for a right knee scar, and service connection for asthma. An initial 50 percent rating, but no higher, was granted for an anxiety disorder.