Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability to include osteoarthritis and total knee replacement residuals, finding that the right knee disability caused an altered gait leading to left knee arthritis. The issue of service connection for multiple joint arthritic disabilities is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a retrospective opinion on her knee symptomatology and severity from January 2012 to December 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete military personnel records and potential active-duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and incorrect legal standards. The Veteran's current diagnoses are being evaluated again by VA clinicians.

The Board has ordered remand of the service connection claims for low back and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA needs to obtain new opinions from an appropriate clinician that address whether these conditions are related to active duty, including in-service injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, along with tinnitus and left hearing loss, prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment from September 30, 2013 to September 30, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disorders, finding that these conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's right knee disability, specifically limitation of flexion, is currently rated at 10 percent and denied for an evaluation in excess of this rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any other compensable cause.

The Board has determined that the VA did not properly consider whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents, such as Agent Green. The Board also found that a VA examination is needed for the Veteran's claimed upper and lower back conditions and left and right knee conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, as the most recent VA examinations did not include necessary range of motion testing.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and meniscus tear, is rated at 20% prior to March 18, 2014. From May 1, 2015, his right knee replacement is rated at 60%. The left knee replacement from July 1, 2016, also receives a 60% rating.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective September 29, 2006, due to the combined effect of multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful employment for the entirety of the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, including whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability was evaluated as 10 percent disabling throughout the appeal period. The Board has ordered a remand to ensure compliance with prior remand orders, specifically to provide retrospective opinions addressing the findings recorded at the July 2019 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knees, skin condition, heart disability, hypertension, and diabetes due to potential service connection based on exposure to toxic chemicals at Fort McClellan. Further development is needed as VA failed to obtain necessary medical opinions.

The Board denied additional attorney fees based on the past-due benefits awarded in a March 2021 rating decision, as the appellant is already in receipt of the full pre-withdrawal amount.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims of service connection for a right ankle condition, a right knee condition, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus on a presumptive basis. The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted as incurred in service. The back, hip, knee, hand, foot, lung, bowel, stomach, and prostate disabilities were denied due to lack of evidence linking them to service.