Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has found that the current examination reports are inadequate for deciding the Veteran's claim and has ordered a new examination to determine if his left knee disorder is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient explanation regarding whether arthritis in either knee had its onset within one year of separation from service (December 1993).

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU prior to November 3, 2014 is being remanded due to the need for further development of evidence.

The Veteran's asthma is granted service connection. The left knee and hip disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted a 30 percent rating, effective from May 1, 2008. The Veteran's bilateral foot disorder remains pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's left knee instability was reduced from 10 percent to noncompensable (0 percent) in a June 2012 rating decision. The Board found this reduction not proper and restored the 10 percent rating.,Since February 7, 2021, the Veteran is granted a 30 percent disability rating for left knee chondromalacia patella with instability associated with left femur fracture with residual shortening of the femur. The effective date is set at February 7, 2021.,Since October 8, 2019, the Veteran's left knee limitation of extension has been rated as noncompensable.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and pulmonary heart disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during his active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Board also remanded several issues including entitlement to initial ratings for tinnitus and hearing loss, as well as the reopening of claims for PTSD, right knee disability (now status post total replacement), and left knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased disability evaluations in multiple cases, including left knee ligament reconstruction, great toe arthritis, pilonidal cyst surgery, hemicolectomy, and right knee degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable. The left eye epiretinal membrane with chorioretinal scar was granted a 10 percent rating from October 31, 2014. For the left knee and right knee conditions, the Veteran's ratings remain unchanged.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable evaluation for right knee residual scar, service connection for chest trauma, and left knee disability have been denied. The Veteran's claim for TBI has been remanded.,The Veteran's claims for service connection of traumatic brain injury (TBI), right shoulder disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and ratings have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these matters as they are now without a claimant.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, low back, and left elbow disabilities due to incomplete records and inadequate opinions regarding aggravation.

The Veteran's left knee limitation of extension is granted at a 30% rating from March 9, 2012. A separate 10% rating for instability is also granted from the same date.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and a lumbar spine disorder due to unclear medical opinions and lack of evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's generalized arthralgias, as it affects his lumbar spine and joints such as shoulders, elbows, knees, hands, and thumbs. The Veteran reported worsening joint pain since the last examination in March 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity disabilities, including as secondary to a service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the service-connected right and left knee disabilities, including whether there is functional ankylosis or meniscal conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of right patellofemoral syndrome and right knee condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, neck disability, bilateral shoulder condition, and nerve disability affecting the right upper extremity due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment prior to March 3, 2018. The Board granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.