Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination assessing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed right knee condition. The Veteran is found competent to report having experienced right knee pain since service, and his statements are consistent with his history of falling during service.

The reduction of the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 40% to 0% was not proper, and the 40% rating is restored.,The reduction of the rating for right knee instability from 10% to 0% was not proper, and the 10% rating is restored.,The reduction of the rating for painful left calf scar from 10% to 0% was not proper.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back, left elbow, right elbow, left knee, and right knee conditions due to in-service events or injuries. The VA examinations are needed to provide opinions on the likelihood of a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he can perform the tasks required in sedentary employment with reasonable accommodations.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, bilateral pes planus, knee and shoulder disabilities. Additional evidence is needed from VA and SSA records, as well as medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his current disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and knee/hip conditions, prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent prior to August 10, 2019, and from August 10, 2019, to April 26, 2021. The rating was denied as the flexion did not reach a level of limitation that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as his right and left knee instability. The Veteran was granted separate 20 percent ratings for both knees' instability.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for further evaluation of his ability to function in an occupational environment due to his service-connected conditions. Additional medical records and a retrospective opinion are needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and for obtaining updated VA treatment records. The Veteran needs a new examination to assess his left knee condition.

The Board has remanded two issues related to service connection for mild degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees due to inadequate reasoning in a previous opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, higher ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities, and TDIU prior to January 17, 2019. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical opinions regarding the cause or aggravation of his sleep apnea by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension. Additionally, a new VA examination is needed to assess the extent of his knee disabilities during flare-ups.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disorder and an initial rating of 10 percent for associated lumbar spine radiculopathy, right lower extremity (RLE), effective June 29, 2015. The Veteran's claim was denied for a higher than 40 percent rating for RLE radiculopathy since November 15, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee, right knee, and neck disorders did not begin during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. As a result, the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board denied increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability and right sciatic radiculopathy. The Veteran's left knee and hip disabilities were also addressed, with some issues resolved through restoration of prior ratings.

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals, including those for PTSD, right knee instability, left knee instability, and a higher rating for chondromalacia patella.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability, right knee disability, heart disorder (claimed as abnormal heart rhythm), and headaches due to incomplete records. The RO is instructed to attempt to obtain all relevant service personnel and medical records from the Massachusetts National Guard.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension was granted a 40% rating, but the RO reduced it to 10%. The reduction is now being restored.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, particularly in relation to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The current VA examinations are deemed inadequate as they did not adequately address the Veteran's contentions and provided largely the same rationale for separate etiology questions.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a right leg skin disability (claimed as shingles) because the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were caused by the Veteran's military service.