Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's appeals for CFS, increased ratings for IBS with GERD and rhinitis, and increased ratings for knee disabilities have been dismissed.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of respiratory disabilities and knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals hysterectomy, right knee meniscus tear, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are being remanded due to inadequate opinions in the September 2022 VA opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for an evaluation higher than 10 percent for a right knee strain and an evaluation higher than 10 percent for a status post right ankle strain and fracture, resulting in the dismissal of these appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder. The issue will be further reviewed and a new medical opinion will be obtained.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and consideration of the issues related to his service-connected conditions, including bruxism (claimed as teeth grinding), migraine headaches, PTSD, lumbar strain, reactive airway disease, rheumatoid arthritis of the bilateral knees, tinnitus, restless leg syndrome, left elbow chronic epicondylitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, allergic rhinitis, status-post right 4th metacarpal fracture, bilateral shin splints, erectile dysfunction, scars on the bilateral knees and left elbow, right great toe onychomycosis, and acne.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, but denied service connection for right shoulder, elbow, and wrist disorders as well as a GI disorder. The case is remanded for further development regarding the right shoulder, elbow, and wrist issues.

Service connection is granted for right and left knee disabilities.,The Veteran's cervix disability, including HPV, is also service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability, including rating adjustments and TDIU determination, due to incomplete development. An updated examination is needed to assess current severity of her left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, back, shoulder, ankle, foot, hip, fibromyalgia, acid reflux with nausea, erectile dysfunction, and chronic fatigue syndrome have been denied as new and relevant evidence has not been presented to support these claims.,Specifically, the Board found that there is no medical evidence linking any of these conditions to service or any other related factors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings assigned for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities based on a supplemental claim filed in May 2021. The VA did not receive new and relevant evidence regarding these claims.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding his claim for service connection for left knee osteoarthritis as it does not have jurisdiction to address the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the right-ankle condition but has remanded the claim for the right-knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's varicose veins and OSA are not related to service, but his bilateral knee disorder may be due to or aggravated by his service-connected pes planus with plantar fasciitis and shin splints.,Service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder is remanded. The examiner should consider the Veteran's weight gain after service and any continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee chondromalacia and left knee strain, finding that the current disabilities had their onset during active service.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on housebound status prior to October 26, 2016 was denied as he did not meet the criteria of having a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or greater.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for tuberculosis, bilateral knee disabilities, and lower extremity neurological/vascular disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence of record. The right arm disability claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's left knee brace causes skin abrasions and wear on his clothing due to its design, leading to a decision granting a clothing allowance for the year 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to preclude substantially gainful employment for the period from January 24, 2009, to August 12, 2020. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis during this period.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate prior to May 28, 2019 was denied as he did not meet the criteria of being permanently and substantially confined to his immediate premises due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disability, including asthma and COPD, and for a right knee disability due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.