Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and awarded TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back condition and associated radiculopathy.

The Veteran's hypertension, left knee disability, residuals of gallbladder removal surgery, sleep apnea, heart condition, skin disability, headaches and dizziness, and allergic rhinitis have all been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Issues such as entitlement to service connection for a heart condition, skin disability, headaches and dizziness, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his torn knee meniscus and patellofemoral joint pain is remanded. The Board finds that an adequate medical opinion regarding the extent of functional loss due to pain, weakness, fatigability, or incoordination during flare-ups is necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for right and left knee disabilities based on limitation of motion, instability, and other issues. A new VA examination is needed to assess current severity.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee strain as the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee condition, including meniscal tear, is caused or aggravated by his service-connected back condition. Further development is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claim for a restoration of the 10 percent rating for right knee lateral subluxation as of January 1, 2012 was granted. The earlier effective date claims for increased evaluation and limitation of extension were also granted.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and IVDS, headaches, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for neck disability, back disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability that is related to service.

The Veteran's left ankle condition, including tendonitis and degenerative joint disease of the left knee, have been granted service connection. The right ankle condition has also been granted but is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for service connection of a left eye disorder and compensable evaluation for surgical scars on the lower anterior left knee. The Board found no current evidence of a left eye disorder or functional impairment from his reported symptoms, thus denying these claims. For the scars on the left lateral and upper anterior knees, the Board noted that there was no indication of instability or pain in any of the scars, which precluded an increased evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee disabilities, an acquired psychiatric disability, and sleep apnea due to potential outstanding treatment records and further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right elbow and bilateral knees due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated based on instability and arthritis. The Veteran is currently receiving a 30 percent rating for limited flexion of the left knee from May 5, 2021.,The Veteran also contends that he should be entitled to separate ratings for his service-connected arthritis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and right knee conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within one year of discharge, and that any current disabilities are not related to military service.

The Board found that the discontinuance of VR&E services in May 2015 was proper and that the Veteran did not qualify for independent living services at that time.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during or are otherwise related to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.