Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that new and material evidence was submitted. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for neck, left arm, right arm, right knee, and left knee conditions due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right knee and scars on the right knee, as well as service connection for a left knee disability due to further development being needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee strain with meniscus tear due to incomplete compliance with a prior remand.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional evidentiary development, including a review of private treatment records from Dr. J.E. and ensuring that the Veteran is notified of the requirements to successfully challenge the reduction of his right tibia and fibula disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and examination to address the severity of his bilateral knee disabilities, loss of balance, and psychiatric disorder. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has also been raised.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted service connection. The claims for left hip, shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for the lung disability (left pneumothorax) remains pending.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right knee disability and denied entitlement to a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives regarding the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to his representative requesting the withdrawal of all issues listed on the December 12, 2018, statement of the case. As a result, the Board dismisses the appeal.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence in the record, particularly regarding the Veteran's theory that his current knee conditions are related to wear-and-tear from service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for her bilateral knee, hip, and right ankle disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and treatment records.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided do not sufficiently address the Veteran's claims for service connection, particularly regarding whether her current disabilities are related to in-service events or conditions. The issues have been remanded once again.

The Board has found that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a VA examination and medical opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, which was remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was granted with an effective date of March 21, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee strain is granted. The claim for a higher initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral strain with arthritis is denied, and the claim for service connection for right leg condition (claimed as bilateral leg condition) is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for arthritis and tendonitis/tendinosis of the knees, as well as arthritis in the feet and arms/hands due to specific directives from previous remand orders.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total replacement arthroplasty, is rated at 60 percent effective from November 1, 2013. A compensable rating for a scar associated with the total replacement was denied.