Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a right foot condition and left knee degenerative joint disease due to procedural issues and the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, wrist, foot, and depressive disorder disabilities have been granted with effective dates of December 29, 2007.,Service connection has also been established for depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an administrative error in submitting a modernized review system form instead of a legacy one. The Veteran must file a timely VA Form 9 if he wishes to continue his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee disability was denied. He was not granted a higher rating for his right knee instability or limitation of flexion before February 7, 2021 and June 24, 2022 respectively. The Board also did not grant an earlier effective date for the 30 percent rating for the limitation of extension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorders due to deficiencies in the medical opinions provided. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his cervical spine disability as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral foot, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence supporting a causal relationship between these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral syndrome prior to April 6, 2021 is being remanded due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and a total knee replacement, is granted. The left knee disability is denied as not incurred in service or secondary to the now service-connected right knee.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left leg/knee disability is related to service or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chronic joint pains, bursitis of the right wrist, chondromalacia of the left and right knee, and left ankle strain. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder (claimed as memory loss) is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability and groin injury due to incomplete records. The case will be reconsidered after all relevant records are obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip condition, right knee condition, and arthritis due to conflicting evidence regarding diagnoses and possible relationships to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot arthritis has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease.,Initial ratings of 20 percent are assigned for right ankle disability (including instability) and left ankle disability (including instability). Separate ratings of at least 10 percent are assigned for right knee status post meniscectomy and right knee instability.

The Board has granted a 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's right knee disability prior to May 26, 2010, based on painful motion with frequent episodes of pain, locking, and effusion due to a meniscal tear.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for low back and left knee conditions due to the need for further examination. The Veteran will be provided forms to obtain private medical records, and he will undergo examinations to determine if his current symptoms are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in previous examinations and consideration of flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hip and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to November 30, 2016. The VA must obtain all outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a back disability and its secondary effects on other conditions, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of left hip, right ankle, and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran testified that his current disabilities began during active service while performing boxing activities and drills.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disorder, left knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, and bilateral foot disorder due to lack of medical evidence addressing these conditions during service. The Veteran's claim for PTSD is denied as there was no effective date prior to May 18, 2010.