Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including right and left knee chondromalacia, are rated at 10 percent each. The Veteran is granted a separate 20 percent rating for instability of both knees. A TDIU effective March 27, 2015, is also granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated at 10% since July 1, 2013. A separate 10% rating was granted from January 25, 2019.,Right ankle and left ankle disabilities have not met the criteria for a higher rating under current VA regulations.,The Veteran's right foot disability has been rated at 10% since July 1, 2013. No higher rating is warranted due to lack of evidence of more severe impairment.,The Veteran's left foot disability has also been rated at 10% since July 1, 2013. No higher rating is warranted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability due to lack of medical evidence supporting such a relationship.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and rating determinations due to inadequate prior examinations. The issues are inextricably intertwined with TDIU.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are granted a 30 percent rating for the period prior to October 4, 2010. The claims of increased ratings for his bilateral knee and hip disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and TDIU as the Veteran has died, and there is no substituted appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable disability rating for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and the retrieval of private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetic nephropathy, DDD of the lumbar spine and lumbar spondylosis with radiculopathy, posterior tibialis tenosynovitis of the right ankle, and arthritis of the right knee have been granted. The kidney condition is secondary to hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected, secondary to his right knee osteoarthritis, and whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn for several conditions, including hearing loss, left knee condition, right knee condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left foot condition, and right foot condition. The claims for varicose veins, lower back condition, left ankle sprain, and right ankle sprain are granted.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a lower back condition is being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either knee, as their flexion was limited to less than or equal to 30 degrees at worst.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the case to obtain a VA examination regarding the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to issues with his left knee, including instability previously rated as limitation of extension. The right knee claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's left knee joint pain is presumed to be due to an undiagnosed illness related to service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. Service connection for GERD and Barrett's esophagus are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in a VA examination report, and the Veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 10 percent for arthritis of the right knee is now pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for OSA, increased ratings for right knee instability and retropatellar pain syndrome due to conflicting medical evidence and need for additional examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right and left ankle/foot disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities, all secondary to a service-connected back disability. The VA needs to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.