Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for the Veteran's right knee and right foot disabilities, and remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, resulting in a TDIU rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds no basis for an increased rating. The claims for hypertension and other conditions are denied as secondary to the service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain and chondromalacia, finding that the Veteran's current knee disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability are all granted. The issue of service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability is remanded.

The DIC benefits claim is denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for receiving such benefits. The cause of death claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and his death.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a statement of the case addressing compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation of his left knee disabilities, including sleep impairment. The current nature, extent, and severity of the service-connected conditions are to be assessed.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder condition, left knee condition, and skin disorder (including contact dermatitis) due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any of these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea and a thoracolumbar spine disability, as these conditions are secondary to other service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's appeals regarding right knee patellofemoral arthritis and left knee arthritis have been reduced from 30 percent to 10 percent effective February 25, 2016.

The Board has remanded three issues: service connection for PTSD, service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, and service connection for a back condition claimed as secondary to the knees. The reasons include unresolved stressor verification, incomplete consideration of STRs in some cases, and need for further medical opinions.

The Veteran's left knee disability with ununited chronic ossicle is rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The right-hand disability characterized as degenerative changes of the second metacarpal of the right hand prior to June 20, 2014, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter remains in appellate status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his knee and foot disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine disability. The issues include prepatellar effusion of both knees, degenerative arthritis with calcaneal spurs in both feet, and a disc bulge in the lumbar spine.

The Board granted a 20% rating for the Veteran's right knee sprain from July 21, 2012, through February 3, 2020. The decision also noted that there is no evidence of instability or extension issues warranting separate ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims for right knee disability and left knee disability are also remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee and elbow disabilities were denied increased ratings. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right knee disability, as it was already at its maximum allowable under VA regulations.,For his right elbow and left elbow disabilities, the Board noted full range of motion in both elbows but found no instability or other disabling conditions warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and low back disability due to potential pre-existing conditions and lack of clear and unmistakable aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.