Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for various conditions, including right knee injury, left knee injury, left side rib pain, PTSD, and amnesia. Additional development is needed to obtain employment records from the U.S. Forest Service and Social Security Administration disability benefits records.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to new evidence added by VA. The Veteran's claims of a higher disability rating for her left knee and TDIU are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional evidentiary development due to incomplete examination reports and failure to elicit information regarding flare-ups of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic fatigue, right and left knee disabilities, acne vulgaris, and lumbar spine strain due to incomplete or insufficient evidence. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of flexion or instability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence and issues being inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, left knee, and low back disabilities due to inadequate opinions in July 2021. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and remanded for further development, including obtaining new examination reports to address the nature and severity of knee disabilities during flare-ups and the presence of a neurological disability in each lower extremity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a right knee disorder manifested by foot drop, pain, and numbness due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination to determine if his current symptoms are related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected PTSD, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The appeal is being remanded to allow the AOJ to consider newly received evidence in the first instance.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, left hip, arthritis in multiple joints except hips, knees, and shoulders, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss due to lack of evidence of current disabilities.,There is no medical evidence showing the Veteran has any current hip or joint disability, including arthritis. The Veteran's service records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical examination and records review, as well as consideration of updated rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities, particularly those related to his service. The Veteran is required to provide verification of all periods of active duty and ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA, and a VA examination must be conducted to determine if any current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active duty from May 2009 to May 2011. Service connection was denied for bilateral eye disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee arthritis and instability due to additional information needed from a VA examiner.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy, PFB, hypertension, and right knee disability. The appeal is being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and meniscal tear, is rated at 40% overall. A separate 10% rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage is granted as of July 19, 2016.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including thoracolumbar spine disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, and left ankle disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has found that further examination and evaluation are necessary to determine the current severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities, as well as whether her cervical spine disability is related to service or secondary to her knee disabilities. The claims for increased ratings and service connection will be remanded.