Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to inconsistencies in the VA examiner's findings regarding the left knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete medical opinions. The case is sent back for further examination and an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete or conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, back disability, and left knee disability. The claims are not yet ready for appellate review.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including dislocated semilunar cartilage, is granted a separate 10% rating.,Service connection for IBS as secondary to service-connected anxiety disorder is granted.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated based on painful motion without compensable limitation of flexion or extension. The appeals for increased ratings are denied.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple sclerosis, bilateral knee disability, dizziness as secondary to multiple sclerosis, fatigue as secondary to multiple sclerosis, and a bilateral leg condition as secondary to multiple sclerosis. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and because of new information regarding the Veteran's obesity and its relation to his PTSD medication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he was unemployable solely because of his service-connected conditions. The Board noted that other non-service-connected disorders were more likely contributing factors to his unemployment.

The Veteran's right knee extension is limited to 15 degrees throughout the appeal period, warranting a 20% rating. Instability of the right knee is rated at 20%, considering moderate instability throughout the period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding no nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's last VA examination was in August 2015, and the evidence suggests that his right knee disability may have worsened since then. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 9, 2015, for the grant of service connection for adjustment disorder was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating in excess of 70 percent prior to August 8, 2016, for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a 100% disability rating beginning August 8, 2016, for adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression was granted.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to their relationship with the Veteran's service-connected left hip disability. The effective date is not specified as it was vacated in an earlier decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability. The claim will be reconsidered with an adequate opinion on the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left knee and shoulder disabilities due to deficiencies in VA examination reports, lack of consideration of certain medical records, and need for a new opinion regarding functional ankylosis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the inadequacy of the March 2017 VA examination, which did not adequately address his lay contentions and observed symptoms regarding increased knee disability over time. The Veteran also contends that his current range of motion has degraded since the last examination five years ago.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent since November 6, 2020. The rating has been granted for the period after that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left and right knee disorders did not have an onset during active service, within a year of service, or are otherwise attributable to any incident of service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected. However, due to insufficient evidence regarding whether his right knee disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, the case is being remanded for further development.