Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically concerning the point at which pain begins during range of motion and during flare-ups.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the claims of service connection for left foot condition and left knee condition as secondary to left foot condition before a decision was made.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral knee disabilities due to a need for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the conditions. The Veteran's service-connected left hip condition may be related to his avascular necrosis, which is linked to his PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, liver disease (to include hepatitis B), gastrointestinal disorder (to include IBS and/or Crohn's disease), low back disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, kidney disease, heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions must be remanded to obtain VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for further review due to insufficient reasons and bases provided in the September 2022 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran's attorney argues that the SSOC did not provide adequate discussion of the relevant evidence, allowing the Veteran an opportunity to present arguments before the Board.

An initial 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted.,An initial 10 percent rating for right knee arthritis is granted, effective January 29, 2021.

The Board has determined that further assistance is needed to determine if the Veteran's right knee disorder had its onset during service or is related to service. The case is being remanded for a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD. The cases of lumbar spine disability and left knee disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of low back, right leg, left hip, and bilateral knee disabilities due to secondary service-connected left foot and ankle disability. The VA examiner is requested to provide opinions on the etiology of these conditions based on the Veteran's lay statements and medical records.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the current condition is not related to active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for further development due to inadequate opinions regarding her left hip and knee conditions, which may be related to her service-connected left foot disability. The case will now return for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has dismissed the claims for TDIU as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of temporary total ratings for her left knee disability. For the period from October 1, 2015, to February 23, 2020, and beginning April 1, 2021, the Board denied entitlement to a TDIU on both schedular and extraschedular grounds due to lack of information about her employment status. The Veteran did not complete the necessary forms for VA to assess her employability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a right eye disability incurred in service. The left knee and right knee issues remain under consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee meniscal tear and iliotibial band syndrome, finding that the Veteran's right knee disability aggravated his left knee condition. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral syndrome is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability. The claims for service connection for back, left knee, right knee, and bronchitis disabilities have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including leukemia, left ankle and knee conditions, tinnitus, skull scars, and lower leg issues, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee DJD and whether it is related to his service-connected right knee disability. The issues include determining if the Veteran's current left knee condition had its onset during active service or is related to any in-service disease, event, or injury, as well as whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for gastrointestinal disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and multiple musculoskeletal disorders due to lack of complete development. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent for his right hip replacement, and remanded other issues related to his hips and knees.