Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for left and right knee disabilities due to incomplete medical records, including those related to a recent surgery. The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are being evaluated again with additional evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU rating is granted from September 11, 2004, to May 17, 2012, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right knee disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings at any point.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a retrospective medical opinion on the severity of his right knee disability prior to July 2019 and referring his TDIU claim for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a respiratory disorder is dismissed. The claim for increased rating of hypertension from January 4, 2020, and no earlier, is granted. The claims for service connection of right shoulder condition and right knee condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete development of his records, including VA treatment records from Puget Sound Health Care System, private chiropractor Dr. Vranna's records, federal employee disability retirement benefits application status, and Social Security Administration disability benefits application status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, headaches, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left wrist disability have been reopened. The effective date of the increased rating for right foot hallux valgus with hallux rigidus is set at May 15, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder has been reopened, but the Board has remanded it due to insufficient evidence. The claim for secondary service connection for left knee disorders is also remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is related to his service-connected left knee disability. The back disability claim was remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further action on several issues, including ratings for his right knee scar, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and effective dates for various disabilities, including right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee strain, anemia, gastrointestinal disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, TDIU, and dental treatment. The Veteran must submit a substantive appeal to perfect these claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for a right shoulder disorder and service connection for sleep apnea. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder bursitis, as well as his left and right knee pain, are now rated at 20 percent each. The decision is effective from the date of the rating decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU due to issues with his lumbar spine, knees, and ankles. The AOJ is instructed to obtain VA opinions on the severity of the Veteran's back condition during flare-ups and following repeated use over time, etiology of his knee conditions, etiology of his ankle condition, and extraschedular consideration for TDIU prior to April 1, 2013.

The Veteran's initial and higher ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, are denied. The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability has worsened during the appeal period but did not meet criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 7813.

Service connection is granted for bilateral pes planus, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral hip arthritis.,An initial compensable rating for limitation of motion of the right index finger was denied. An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right thumb injury was denied. A separate 10 percent rating, but no higher, for residuals of inguinal hernia was granted.

The Veteran's low back disorder and left leg radiculopathy are granted service connection.,Service connection for a sinus disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left hip disorder, neck disorder, and right hip disorder is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically left and right knee osteoarthritis with painful limitation of flexion and extension, as well as moderate instability, are granted at a 20% rating effective January 17, 2008.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at 40 percent, but no higher. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating for his hearing loss. For the low back and left knee disabilities, additional development is needed as there are incomplete VA examination reports.