Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for right collar bone condition, right elbow pain, right knee pain, left eye peripheral degeneration, and bilateral hand numbness due to a lack of medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability, and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left hip pain and left knee pain due to incomplete examination reports and lack of opinions regarding whether these conditions are proximately due or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation for regular aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities, including posttraumatic stress disorder, bowel incontinence, degenerative arthritis of the spine with degenerative disc disease thoracic spine and lumbar disc disease status post fusion, right lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve), status post total right knee replacement, chondromalacia patella left knee with arthrotomy and osteoarthritis (limitation of extension), chondromalacia patella left knee with arthrotomy and osteoarthritis (instability), right lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), left lower extremity radiculopathy (femoral nerve), right knee scars, left knee scar, female sexual arousal disorder, surgical scar of the neck area, surgical scar of the anterior trunk, and surgical scars of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, neck, left knee, and right knee disabilities as well as hypertension due to unclear opinions from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and an anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are continuous since service separation and meeting the criteria for presumptive service connection due to chronic disease.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as he does not have a current disability.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (insomnia) is denied due to lack of evidence showing the condition during or proximate to the appeal period, and because alcohol dependence is not service-connected.,The issue of service connection for a left eye disability has been remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding the presence of a current disability.,Service connection for low back joint pain, right knee joint pain, left knee joint pain, right ankle joint pain, and left shoulder joint pain have all been remanded due to insufficient evidence or lack of proper examination.,reasoning_1_sentence_service_connection_for_bilateral_hearing_loss_and_acquired_psychiatric_disorder_direct,confidence_score_0.9

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right shoulder arthritis and hypertension have been withdrawn.,Service connection has not been established for alcohol abuse, right ear hearing loss, bilateral flat feet, penile condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, or a left hand condition.

The appeal for service connection on all issues except hypertension has been dismissed. The claim for reopening of the previously denied claim for service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, gastritis, left and right knee disabilities, sinusitis with headaches, left foot scar, and adjustment disorder with anxiety are not supported by evidence of a current disability. The issues have been remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for neck, right knee, and left knee conditions. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for IBS was denied. A subsequent increase to a 30 percent rating effective November 2, 2021, has been granted.,Service connection for tinea pedis and right shoulder condition were both denied.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left shoulder disabilities due to lack of evidence showing onset in or causation related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU rating is being remanded due to the need for updated evidence and an examination. The Board will consider whether his service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus, right and left knee disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain updated medical opinions and examinations regarding his service-connected disabilities, as well as for the claims of hypertension, gastroduodenitis, diverticulitis, and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability due to inconsistencies in the previous examination and opinion. The Veteran's current right knee disability is being reviewed, including her reports of worsening symptoms over time.

The Board has remanded both claims of service connection for degenerative arthritis of the low back and a left knee disorder, as they are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disorder and right knee patellofemoral syndrome due to new VA medical opinions being needed.