Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities. The claims will be further developed with new medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left and right knee strains are denied as his range of motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating and service connection were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claims.

The Veteran's left knee disability has not more closely approximated the criteria for a higher rating during the appeal period.,Prior to November 8, 2013, the Veteran's left ankle disability did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent. From November 8, 2013 onwards, the Veteran's left ankle disability more closely approximated marked limitation of motion and warrants a maximum schedular rating of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for low back, right knee, and left knee disorders due to a lack of information regarding the qualifications of the December 2017 VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records from the Veteran's second period of active duty service between May 1981 and March 1985. The appeal is being returned to the RO for compliance with the previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and consideration. The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions are being reviewed, but no decisions have been made yet.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral hip and knee disabilities due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives. The case is now before the Board for further review.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining a VA examination to assess the severity of the left knee disability and an opinion regarding the etiology of metrorrhagia and stress incontinence. The issues are also intertwined with the issue of instability of the left knee.

The Board has denied service connection for hernia disorder, bilateral hearing loss, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, and right knee disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection of a psychiatric disorder is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the claimed conditions as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these disorders.

The appellant has withdrawn his appeal, leaving only the issue of entitlement to TDIU in appellate status. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's headaches are rated at 50 percent from March 7, 2015 to October 10, 2017. From July 6, 2022, the rating is denied.,The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to October 10, 2017 due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's uterine fibroids are now rated at 50% effective January 1, 2019. The Board found that the Veteran underwent a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in September 2018 and is entitled to this rating.

The Board has determined that the VA contract examiner's opinions are inadequate and internally inconsistent, necessitating further examination and opinion to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's service treatment records are unavailable, and the Board has determined that remand is necessary to ensure a VA examination is conducted. The claims for service connection for various conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional information about his work history and to implement the ratings as assigned in this decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of all pending appeals.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis. The low back disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee chondral fissuring has resolved, and his current symptoms are attributable to nonservice-connected conditions. His service-connected left thigh scars have been rated as noncompensably disabling since October 27, 2005.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, bilateral knee disorders (right and left), and bilateral ankle disorders (left and right). The conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.