Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has found the April 2010 rating decision remanding for additional development, specifically requesting an examination to address inconsistencies in the February 2020 VA examination report and to obtain updated treatment records. The Veteran's right knee disabilities are currently rated as 30% (instability) and 10% (flexion limitation).

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals regarding the issues of increased rating for folliculitis, service connection for partial use left side of body, mental disability (mood swings), hearing loss in the left ear, and degenerative arthritis with meniscal tear, right knee. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, including his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues are inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for a combined rating greater than 20 percent, 30 percent, and 30 percent for the right knee disability due to pending development of evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral knee pain is granted as service connected, presumed to be related to Gulf War service.,Glaucoma and obstructive sleep apnea are not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left knee, right knee, lumbar spine strain, and right shoulder sprain have been denied by the Board. The RO has attempted to schedule VA examinations at Two Rivers Correctional Institution but was unable to do so due to the institution's policies.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various joint disabilities, including bilateral shoulder, wrist, neck, upper back, and knee conditions are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,There is also a denial of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (anxiety). The Board found that the Veteran did not have any diagnosed psychiatric condition in his records.

The Board has remanded three issues related to the Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right knee disability, and right knee instability due to lack of substantial compliance with prior Board remand directives.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteonecrosis (bone death) as secondary to his service-connected right knee strain with arthritis, finding that there is no current diagnosis of osteonecrosis and that the Veteran has an osteochondral lesion instead.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing medical records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran needs to provide information about any relevant medical records, and a new examination is required to assess his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's ulcerative colitis causes functional impairment in his knees, including knee pain. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 40 percent disabling for the period from March 20, 2014 through December 31, 2016. The Board finds that this rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee condition, left foot disability, and right foot disability has been granted with an effective date of November 30, 1991.

The Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty residuals were granted a 60 percent rating from March 1, 2010, to February 28, 2017. The claim for TDIU was also granted effective August 31, 2019.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of service connection for high cholesterol, heart condition, back condition, and right knee condition due to inconsistencies in previous opinions and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the reductions in ratings for left knee flexion and instability were improper, and restored the prior ratings. The case is remanded to obtain updated medical records and conduct a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded three issues related to service-connected knee and ankle disabilities due to the need for a new VA examination. The Veteran's right knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities are all rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD and MDD has been granted, but the claim is dismissed as moot due to the effective date being January 9, 2012.,Service connection for hypertension was also granted with a zero percent evaluation, which is now dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee PFS, left knee disability, and hearing loss due to additional medical evidence being needed. Specifically, a VA medical opinion is required to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.