Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for a left knee condition, left shoulder strain, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (other specified anxiety disorder) is granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted a 60 percent rating since May 18, 1988. The right knee disabilities are granted ratings of 30 percent from May 18, 1988 to January 2, 2015 and 60 percent since January 3, 2015.

The Veteran's right knee instability was granted a rating of 30 percent effective from August 25, 2021. A separate 10 percent rating for osteoarthritis of the right knee with painful limitation of flexion is also granted since July 13, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder. The cases of the left knee, right knee, and lower extremity radiculopathy disorders are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions caused or aggravated his obesity, which in turn may have contributed to his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability, osteoarthritis (hip), and headache disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, these claims are still pending as they were not granted.,VA has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's miscarriage during service was granted as service-connected, and she is also entitled to increased ratings for her right knee and back disabilities.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, bilateral ankles, and arthritis of his entire body. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's right knee DJD is rated at 10 percent prior to June 4, 2021 and granted a separate 20 percent rating for instability as of July 11, 2020. The claim for increased ratings remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals for right ankle disability, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss have been dismissed. The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee instability and degenerative joint disease status post partial left knee replacement due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted an increased rating to 70%, and the cases for OSA, bilateral knee disability, and low back disability are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for right and left knee strains due to insufficient evidence from a previous VA examination. The Veteran will need to undergo another VA examination to assess his knee disabilities.

Effective dates of December 30, 2010 for service connection were granted for left ankle traumatic arthritis and anterior talofibular ligament tear residuals, right ankle traumatic arthritis, right knee instability, right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee instability. Effective date of May 7, 2012 was granted for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 20, 2020. The Board has granted TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees. Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach/intestinal condition and right knee strain, finding that there was no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his active duty service.