Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine, hips, and knees as there is no evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability and specifically perform muscle strength testing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence showing a direct relationship between his current knee conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's right knee instability is now rated at 20 percent, effective September 29, 2021. His right knee chondromalacia continues to be rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for VA examinations and rescheduling of his Board hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and left knee disorder based on the Veteran's credible reports of symptoms during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disabilities and low back disability due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for additional opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no current disability of the feet, and the claim was denied on the basis that there is no evidence of a chronic foot condition during service or since. For his anxiety disorder with TBI, the Board determined that the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (DC 9413) should be used, resulting in a 50% rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of her back, knee, and shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for acute recurrent iridocyclitis of the left eye is denied.,The Veteran's right hip and left hip disabilities are remanded for further development, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions regarding functional loss during flare-ups and after repetition over time.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for left knee instability and remanded the issue of entitlement to SMC for loss of use of the left foot due to insufficient examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee degenerative joint disease, total knee replacement, and left knee instability due to inadequate medical evidence from a previous examination. The Veteran needs new VA examinations to assess current severity and any instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The RO must evaluate these claims again, including the new evidence, and issue a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions obtained in December 2019 are inadequate for adjudication and remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining a new examination of the knees and etiology medical opinions.

The Veteran's left ear problems, including status post mastoidectomy left ear and associated hearing loss are granted. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is remanded for further examination and opinion. The Veteran's right knee problem and left knee problem are also remanded for further examination and opinion. The Veteran's sinus problems, to include chronic ethmoidal sinusitis, are remanded for an examination considering herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that they are at least as likely as not incurred during his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for total left knee arthroplasty and for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection and a rating for left peroneal axonal neuropathy and total left knee replacement due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate development in previous examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee arthritis, finding that his current right knee condition is aggravated by his left knee disability.