Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, provide notice regarding personal assault claims, and schedule the Veteran with a VA examination to assess her claimed disabilities.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee DJD prior to September 8, 2003 and a rating in excess of 20 percent from September 8, 2003 to December 1, 2019. The Veteran was granted a 60 percent rating for his left knee disability starting from December 1, 2019.

The Veteran's left knee scars associated with left knee chondromalacia status post meniscal repair were denied a compensable evaluation from October 22, 2013 to November 27, 2017.,A 10 percent evaluation was granted for the left knee scar from November 28, 2017 to April 6, 2021 due to pain.,The Veteran's left knee scars associated with left knee chondromalacia status post meniscal repair were denied a compensable evaluation from April 7, 2021 to the present.,For left knee chondromalacia status post meniscal repair under DC 5259, no higher than a 10 percent rating was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions and need for additional VA clinical records. The Veteran's knee disability may be aggravated by his service-connected right ankle disability, but this needs further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The issues include lumbar spine, cervical spine, left knee, right ankle, and rectal conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain with osteoarthritis and left ankle sprain were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to December 3, 2019, or in excess of 10 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's right wrist disorder is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a link between the condition and his military service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains on appeal as there are conflicting opinions regarding its onset in service.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder has been remanded for further examination and evaluation.,Service connection for a headache disorder is granted based on current medical evidence.,Tinnitus was granted service connection, effective October 13, 2016.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's heart disability, claimed as ischemic heart disease, is not related to service and denied this claim. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a request from his representative for information regarding the qualifications of the VA examiner who provided an opinion in September 2021. The appeal is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left and right knee injuries and tibia-fibular fractures, have not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of February 17, 2021. His long history of employment despite these conditions indicates he is capable of performing the type of work required for his job.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and his military service, particularly the motor vehicle accident in May 1988. The VA is asked to obtain updated treatment records and provide additional medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has denied service connection for upper-gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, left shoulder disorder, right hand disorder, low back disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder as these conditions are not related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to incomplete development and need for additional opinions. The main issues are related to eye disabilities, diabetes, hypertension, knee disabilities, and a neck disability.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including left and right hand disabilities, wrist disabilities, shoulder disability, knee disabilities, leg disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, sinus condition, and hypertension. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's PTSD, thoracolumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea have been granted service connection. A rating of 70 percent has been assigned for PTSD since January 11, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, lumbosacral strain (back trauma), cervical strain (neck pain), and right knee disabilities.,There is no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee strain and instability are rated at a maximum of 20 percent, effective from February 7, 2021. A TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee condition as secondary to his service-connected right knee condition.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his authorized representative, and the Board is dismissing all issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination and an inadequate addendum opinion.