Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities limited her ability to work, but she was able to retire from her job as a respiratory therapist. The Board denied TDIU because the evidence did not show that her service-connected conditions rendered her incapable of participating in any substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 30 percent from February 1, 2019 to May 13, 2021 and in excess of 60 percent thereafter. The Board found no evidence warranting a higher rating based on the provided medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete information and need for a new VA examination. The issues include evaluations for lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of both lower extremities, and MDD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee instability, following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, is granted to a 20 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's right and left knee degenerative joint diseases are granted as secondary to his service-connected pes planus and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement surgery, based on the presumption of chronicity due to continuous symptoms since service separation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability secondary to his right knee disability was granted. However, the appeal for higher evaluations for his right knee disability prior to January 12, 2017 and after August 3, 2021 is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as right and left ankle disorders. Service connection for left hip disorder is also granted. However, the Veteran's claim of a compensable evaluation prior to December 2, 2019, for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and his claim for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent since that date remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for a TDIU, and the right knee DJD rating was denied. The claims of service connection for various conditions were either denied or remanded.

The petition to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for back, knee, shoulder, migraine, and psychiatric disorders is granted. The appeal is allowed to that extent only.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The effective date for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and scars associated with it remains at March 14, 2017.,The Veteran's bilateral ankle disability and left knee disability are remanded due to the need for VA examinations.,The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is remanded as there needs to be a new opinion regarding whether his condition worsened during service.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to September 21, 2015 for PTSD and TBI have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates than October 28, 2016 for left knee strain and right shoulder status post labral, capsule, and rotator cuff repair have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder status post labral, capsule, and rotator cuff repair, and compensable ratings for residual surgical scars on the right shoulder and right knee have been dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis is granted. Service connection for right knee osteoarthritis is denied.

The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for her left foot scars was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.,For the period from December 29, 2016 to the present, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her left foot, left ankle, and right knee scars was also denied as there is no indication that these conditions warranted a higher rating than what she currently receives.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and a right knee disability as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's current disabilities are considered due to his military service, with the right knee disability being related to his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate range of motion testing in the VA examination, and requests for additional records and a new examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of onset in service or causation to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical evidence regarding a left knee disability and the need for further examination.