Knee decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for a right knee condition, finding that the Veteran's present condition was not incurred in or related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee TKA, secondary to postoperative right knee injury with arthritis is granted beginning December 1, 2009. The Board finds the medical evidence supports a 60 percent rating based on chronic residuals including severe painful motion and weakness.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for DJD of the bilateral upper extremities, left knee disability, and tinnitus have been withdrawn. The appeal for a sleep disorder is remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for an examination.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected right knee instability, effective from when the claim was first filed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee conditions and acquired psychiatric disorder, including drug abuse disorder. The reasons are that new examinations and etiological opinions are needed due to the lack of meaningful consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding the onset of his symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding whether his joint pain is due to an undiagnosed illness or environmental exposure during service and whether he has a medically unexplained multisymptom illness (MUCMI).

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a left hip disability was granted. Service connection is now established for the left hip disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The right knee disability remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as he was continually employed full-time, his earnings were above the poverty threshold, and he was not employed in a protected environment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,Service connection has been established for allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee, right elbow, and low back disabilities caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and granted an increased rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and right knee disorder have been granted service connection, and he is now eligible for TDIU benefits from July 10, 2020 to August 20, 2021. The issue of TDIU prior to July 10, 2020 has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's employment history and work-related injuries. The issues of service connection for PTSD and right knee disorder remain pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee and leg disorders, finding that there was no evidence showing a direct link between his military service and these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient rationale in the previous VA opinion. The Veteran's MOS as an indirect fire infantryman may have contributed to his current knee conditions.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from April 16, 2013 to December 31, 2014.,TDIU was denied for the period January 1, 2015 to August 7, 2015 due to substantially gainful income.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a right knee condition and Hepatitis C due to lack of confirmation of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's left knee instability is now rated at 20 percent effective February 7, 2021. The previous separate rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage remains in effect.

The Veteran's aching of muscles, bones, and joints are being remanded for further evaluation due to the presence of multiple joint pain (polyarthralgia) with associated muscular pain generalized distribution and bilateral knee osteoarthritis. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary as there is a plausible nexus to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations, treatment records review, and consideration of new evidence.