Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete records. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence and a new opinion.

The Veteran's right knee limitation of extension is currently rated as 20 percent disabling from July 20, 2015. The Board has remanded the issue for further development.,Service connection for a chronic kidney disability and a chronic forearm strain remains pending.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee and lower back disabilities due to conflicting evidence and need for further development.

The Board dismissed the claim for service connection of right leg radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar strain. A TDIU rating was granted from May 1, 2021. Increased ratings were granted for depressive disorder and lower extremity radiculopathies.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on his spouse needing regular aid and attendance due to her disabilities, as she does not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, left wrist strain with degenerative arthritis, and left knee strain. The conditions are found to be related to service based on the Veteran's credible reports of symptoms in-service and their persistence since then.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, and malignant hyperthermia due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's claims were not supported by medical opinions or other credible evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to determine the current level of severity of his service-connected right knee and back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient development of records, particularly those from before October 2009. The Veteran's service personnel records and VA treatment records for that period need to be obtained.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted effective July 27, 2010 for the assignment of separate ratings for limitation of extension and flexion. The Veteran is also currently assigned a combined rating of 60 percent under Diagnostic Codes 5257, 5260, and 5261.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee conditions due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his current symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as he is already assigned the maximum schedular rating available. The cases for service connection for painful knees, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and phlebitis are all remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the degree of limitation and flexion at the time of the November 2012 VA examination prior to September 27, 2013.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations, treatment records, and verification of his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy, PTSD, diabetes mellitus with retinopathy, cervical sprain, tinnitus, right and left knee degenerative joint disease, pes planus, and left eardrum surgery residuals, preclude him from engaging in gainful employment consistent with his education and experience. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of 90 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the left knee condition is related to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been granted a separate initial 10 percent rating for painful extension since July 23, 2014. The left knee disability was also granted a separate initial 10 percent rating for painful extension from the same date.,Both knees have been denied an increased rating prior to March 7, 2021 and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for instability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a low back disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, bilateral hammer toes, and PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities due to incomplete records and lack of explanation regarding diagnostic codes used throughout the appeal period.