Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected left knee disability are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for a retrospective opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The left knee disability rating is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left hip, right hip, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's death during the appeal process led to substitution of his surviving spouse as the claimant.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as a headache disorder. Service connection was denied for cervical spine, left elbow, and right elbow disorders, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's right knee surgery required convalescence beyond January 31, 2016. However, the evidence did not show severe postoperative residuals such as immobilization of one major joint or more, application of a body cast, necessity for continued use of a wheelchair or crutches, or therapeutic immobilization of one major joint. Therefore, his claim for an extension of the temporary total rating is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current disabilities of the neck, hips, knees, ankles or feet at any time during the pendency of his claims. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for right elbow joint pain, left elbow joint pain, right foot joint pain, left foot joint pain, back pain, right ankle joint pain, left ankle joint pain, right knee joint pain, left knee joint pain, and right shoulder joint pain. The Regional Office must obtain additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for medical opinions.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the VA examinations inadequate for the left knee, back, right shoulder, and nose disabilities, and thus remanded these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to inadequate VA examination reports in previous decisions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee osteochondroma and SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound status is being remanded due to the addition of new medical records and the need for further examination.

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

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for ratings of his right knee, left knee, and left knee scars have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury residuals, lumbosacral spine intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative joint disease, PTSD, and other conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has also determined that the Veteran meets the criteria for basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities have been dismissed. Effective May 24, 2010, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbosacral or cervical strain (cervicalgia) has been denied. The claims for increased ratings and service connection for left shoulder, right thigh, and left costochondritis disabilities have been remanded.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted at a 20 percent rating, and his right knee arthritis is service connected. Service connection for TBI was denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations related to these claims are inadequate and remanded for further development. The Veteran's right knee, low back, and headache disabilities are all being reviewed due to their potential connection to service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left knee disabilities, both found to be secondary to his service-connected right foot metatarsalgia with 5th MTPJ pain. The claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.