Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied across multiple conditions, including right lower leg scars, left knee strain and instability, low back pain, right common peroneal nerve injury, and sciatic nerve radiculopathy. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical evidence addressing the relationship between his current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's request to reopen her finally denied claim of service connection for headaches has been granted. The Board has also remanded several other issues including the increased rating for back disability, and claims for degenerative arthritis of shoulders, neck, and knees.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement residuals are rated at a maximum of 60 percent, which is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, acquired psychiatric disorder, lumbar spine disability, and right leg foot drop associated with a lumbar spine disability have been granted.,An earlier effective date of March 14, 2013 has been established for the award of service connection for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further action due to incomplete records and need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, including osteoarthritis and radiculopathy, to include as secondary to service-connected back disability and PTSD. The remand requires additional medical opinions on the nature of the Veteran's knee conditions and their relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations conducted in November 2021 are inadequate and remands the cases for further development.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and residuals of traumatic brain injury.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's left knee disability, including ratings for total replacement, limitation of extension, instability, and limitation of flexion. The decision also mentions that additional VA treatment records are needed and a new orthopedic examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left and right knee disabilities, right ear hearing loss, Meniere's disease, tinnitus, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and hormonal deficiency syndrome have been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral shoulder, hand, and wrist conditions are granted as secondary to his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and extension of temporary total evaluations were denied. The discontinuance of the separate rating for right knee collateral laxity was also upheld.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability, is rated at 20% for the entire rating period from March 17, 2016. A separate 10% rating for right knee instability is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding multiple joint arthritis, including the back, bilateral hips, and bilateral knees. The other issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran has withdrawn all his appeals regarding the increased ratings for his service-connected right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. As a result, these claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his right knee, back, and right ankle conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be obtained.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee meniscal tear and traumatic arthritis due to lack of a proper medical opinion. The Veteran's conditions are related to his service-connected patellar tendonitis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for an increased rating for his service-connected amputation above the knee of the left leg and SMC benefits on the basis of aid and attendance and/or housebound status.