Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric disorder and recurrent kidney stones, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability but has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for sinusitis, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was not aggravated by service and is more likely caused by tobacco abuse.,The Board also denied service connection for bilateral knee disability, concluding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's hypertension and cardiovascular condition are denied as there is no evidence of an in-service onset or causation.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as the evidence supports its in-service onset, but not service connection due to lack of a nexus.,The Veteran's eye condition is remanded for clarification on whether it represents a separate disability from his service-connected allergic rhinitis.,The Veteran's numbness of the left upper extremity and bilateral knee condition are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is remanded to determine if it is distinct from his service-connected allergic rhinitis, and whether its onset or causation can be linked to service.,The Veteran's hypothyroidism is denied as there was no in-service diagnosis of the condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding flare-ups and right knee instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right hip osteoarthritis and right knee strain were denied as his conditions did not warrant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board has found that the VA medical opinions are inadequate for adjudicative purposes and remanded the case again due to non-compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's right knee disorder is being reviewed for service connection, including as secondary to a service-connected left hip disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of right and left knee disorders have been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disorder may be related to his service, but more evidence is needed for a final determination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee, ankle, and pes planus disabilities due to inadequate examination reports from previous VA examinations. The Veteran is also being asked to provide a separate compensable rating for his bilateral pes planus.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current condition is not related to his service-connected pes planus.,The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), all secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's left knee DJD is rated at 10 percent prior to November 17, 2017 and at 30 percent from that date. The separate rating for left knee instability remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from May 30, 2008, to October 18, 2011. TDIU on an extraschedular basis is granted for this period.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a rating in excess of 20 percent for a back disability, and ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee disabilities due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal prior to decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions due to insufficient reasoning in a previous VA examiner's opinion. The case is returned for further development, including an addendum opinion from a new VA examiner.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis and anterior cruciate ligament and meniscal tear have been rated based on their respective conditions. The rating for the degenerative arthritis has been granted at a 30 percent level, while the instability of the anterior cruciate ligament and meniscal tears has been granted at a 10 percent level.

The Board has remanded the cases of increased ratings for left knee and cervical spine disabilities due to new examinations being necessary. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it was raised during the Veteran's hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder, diagnosed as bilateral knee strain, is related to her military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has found that further evidentiary development is necessary and remands the case to ensure compliance with prior remand instructions. The claims are back before the Board for further appellate proceedings.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating and secondary service connection for her right ankle and knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for updated examinations, treatment records, and medical opinions.