Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's left knee disorder, diagnosed as patellofemoral joint compartment degenerative joint disease, is granted service connection. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been granted, including degenerative disc disease of the cervical and lumbar spine, arthritis in both knees, radiculopathy affecting both upper extremities, right ear hearing loss, migraine headaches, depressive disorder, and erectile dysfunction.,Service connection is established for all claimed conditions due to their direct link to service.

The Veteran's initial rating for left and right knee iliotibial band syndrome was denied, with the Board finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating.,Service connection for back disability is remanded due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of hypertensive vascular disease, service connection for respiratory disorder (sleep apnea), and right knee disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the left knee, urinary disability, and polyneuropathy claims. The Veteran's service records will be reviewed to determine if there are any outstanding private treatment records or VA treatment records from February 2018 to present. An examination by an appropriate clinician will be scheduled to assess the current severity of his service-connected left knee strain with chondromalacia patella, enthesopathy and arthritis. The Veteran's urinary disability and polyneuropathy claims will also require additional examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional development due to inadequate reasons and bases in the July 2020 decision. The Veteran's service connection claims for various orthopedic disabilities, including right shoulder, right hand, low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability, are being returned for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to October 3, 2014 are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need to obtain private medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain medical records and an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability and diabetes mellitus. The issues of service connection for a left knee condition and rating higher than 20 percent for diabetes mellitus type II are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient evidence of current disability severity and treatment records.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for right ear hearing loss is denied.,The Veteran's claims for a left hip disorder, left foot disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are remanded.,The Veteran's claims for a back disorder and nerve damage of the legs (sciatica) are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since July 1, 2011. The Board granted TDIU effective that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues, including not considering a recent VA-contracted examination in any prior Supplemental Statements of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran is guaranteed procedural due process.

The Veteran's right knee disability is productive of painful flexion limited to 90 degrees, but not less than 30 degrees. The Veteran also has painful extension causing functional loss as of August 19, 2021 and subjective complaints of instability throughout the claim period. A separate 10 percent rating for painful extension from August 19, 2021 is granted, along with a 10 percent disability rating for right knee instability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and compensation were dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination and incomplete development of records. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to assess the severity of his knee conditions, including range of motion studies that consider pain during active and passive motion in both weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing positions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine was denied due to his failure to report for a VA examination.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically whether they are related to service or not.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability and service connection for his low back disability due to inadequate examinations used by the Board.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records for the Veteran's first period of service. The RO is instructed to attempt to locate and associate these records with the claims file.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease and granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's heart condition is not related to service, but her bilateral knee conditions are found to be due to in-service injuries.