Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage, has been rated at a maximum of 60 percent since April 20, 2021.

The Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and effective dates earlier than September 5, 2013, for the grants of service connection for right knee tendinitis and left knee tendinitis have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for a new and material evidence to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for an eye disability has been granted. The claim for a new and material evidence to reopen his claims of entitlement to service connection for a headache disorder has also been granted.,Service connection is granted for a headache disorder, with the low back disability secondary to bilateral knee tendinitis being in equipoise.

The Board denied service connection for polymyositis, sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, right and left ankle disabilities, as well as higher initial ratings for radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, left femoral nerve, and degenerative changes in both knees.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder, left elbow, right elbow, and left knee conditions based on the Veteran's credible statements of in-service injuries and continuous symptoms since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left knee meniscal tear and instability, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms before June 25, 2018 did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 70 percent.,From September 5, 2006 to June 24, 2018, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee disability, back disability, left hip disability, and headaches has been dismissed. The claims for reopening of service connection for a back disability, left hip disability, and headaches have been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, back disability, left hip disability, and headaches remains pending with the Board.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records and providing VA examinations.

The Board remands the claims for a left arm/shoulder disability, right knee disability, and sleep disability to obtain additional evidence and ensure that the VA examinations are adequate.

The Board granted a 50 percent disability evaluation for migraine headaches effective August 10, 2021, and a 70 percent disability evaluation for depressive disorder and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified effective August 16, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disorders, including bilateral knee, hip, and ankle conditions, a vein disorder, foot and skin disorders, as well as remanded the issues of sleep apnea and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, a lumbar spine disability, a right knee disability, and a cervical spine disability. The reasons provided were that there was no in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and the evidence did not support a finding of a relationship between any current disabilities and active service.,The Board also denied service connection for diabetes mellitus on a presumptive basis as it did not manifest within one year of separation from service. The reasons provided were that there was no in-service injury or disease related to this condition, and the evidence did not support a finding of a relationship between any current disability and active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The VA examiner will need to provide opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to military service.

The Board reopened the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral elbow disabilities, bilateral wrist disabilities, bilateral hand disabilities, skin disability, oligomenorrhea, and chronic fatigue syndrome but denied service connection for oligomenorrhea and dermatitis.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate, and thus the claims for service connection for right knee and right shoulder disabilities must be remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis.

The Board remands the claims for a new VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected right hip disability, as well as to determine if any left hip, right knee, back, or psychiatric disabilities are caused or aggravated by the right hip disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral hip disability, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examination and opinion to reconcile conflicting medical evidence regarding bilateral knee instability during the periods on appeal.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current disability is not related to his in-service injury or disease and is not secondary to his service-connected PTSD and coronary artery disease.,The Board also denied service connection for a right knee disability, concluding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease resulting in the current condition.