Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as a result of herbicide agent exposure.,The scar on the right hand does not warrant a compensable rating.,Higher or separate ratings for hip disabilities are denied.,Increased ratings for knee conditions are granted.,Right knee instability and meniscal tear of the right knee are also granted.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for depression/anxiety, a right knee condition, and initial increased disability ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and IVDS, and bilateral hearing loss are dismissed. The Veteran's claims for an initial increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity sciatic radulopathy and left lower extremity sciatic radulopathy are also dismissed.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left knee strain, finding that the Veteran's conditions do not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic headaches, residuals of a right inguinal hernia, lumbar spine disorder, chest pains (cardiac toxicity), neck disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and loss of vision are all granted. The cases are remanded for additional examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities due to conflicting medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's essential tremor disabilities of the left hand and right hand, as well as his left knee and hip disabilities, are all granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and low back lumbar strain with radiculopathy. The Veteran's current conditions are found to be related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to August 30, 2018 and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or on housebound status from October 11, 2020 due to insufficient information provided by the Veteran regarding his employment history during the period of appeal. The Board also requested that SSA provide earnings statements throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current right shoulder disability or any other claimed condition related to service. The Veteran's testimony regarding his right shoulder pain does not meet the threshold requirement for establishing a present disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient range of motion assessments in prior examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee strain disability had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent since May 12, 2015.,The Veteran's right knee disability is also rated at 20 percent since May 12, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for right and left knee disabilities and knee scars, finding that December 8, 2016 is the earliest possible effective date based on the date of receipt of his petition to reopen the claims.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for residuals of a head injury, kidney disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder must be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or causation during military service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, right knee, and right ankle disabilities were remanded for further evaluation. The abdominal incisional hernia was denied. The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement and left lower extremity radiculopathy with sciatic nerve involvement were granted initial 20 percent ratings.

The Board denied service connection for TBI, Seizure Disorder, Right Knee Condition, Left Knee Condition, and Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (including Major Depressive Disorder, PTSD, Sleep Disturbances, and Anxiety). The decision also denied service connection for Psoriasis.,There was no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right thigh, knee, ankle, and left ankle disorders have been reopened.,Higher ratings for the lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral foot disabilities are denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, but further development is needed as the VA examiner found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran's left knee strain was remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding its onset and relationship to service.,Service connection for CAD was not established, while service connection for left knee strain remains pending.

The Veteran's right knee scars are rated at 20 percent since April 28, 2014. One scar is both painful and unstable.