Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to address the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, left knee disability, and their combined impact on his employability prior to October 4, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not indicate total occupational and social impairment, but rather intermittent occupational and social impairment warranting a 50% rating. Service connection claims for bilateral knee, rib, neck, and sciatic nerve disabilities were remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was denied. The appeals for service connection for colon polyps and prostate cancer were both denied.,The appeals for service connection for right knee disorder and glaucoma are pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to duty-to-assist errors and new evidence added during a period when it was not allowed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of headaches, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements and service treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee strain is granted service connection. The issues of COPD and lung cancer are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee and hip disorders have been denied. The appeal for TDIU has also been denied.

The rating reduction of the Veteran's right knee disability from 30 percent to 10 percent, effective October 10, 2016, was improper. The 30 percent rating is restored. A rating in excess of 30 percent for a right knee disability have not been met.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current gastrointestinal, gastroesophageal, and right knee disabilities and his active-duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee conditions are related to his in-service cumulative impact injury during basic training.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, respiratory disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea. The medical evidence did not support the claims that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for left and right hip, knee disabilities due to incomplete records from a private provider. The Veteran's current knee disabilities are also being examined to determine their relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's knee disabilities are inadequate and remanded to obtain a new examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, including functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Veteran's Osgood-Schlatter disease of the right and left knees, as well as bilateral shin splints, were granted service connection due to a permanent increase in severity during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence showing an in-service injury and hospitalization. The claims will be further evaluated with additional medical records and a psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a left foot disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient development.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by painful limitation of motion in extension and recurrent subluxation with instability, has been rated at 20 percent since July 15, 2011. The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (arthritis) and right hand arthritis, but denied service connection for left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, including osteoarthritis, has been reopened. However, the Board denied the claim as there is no evidence of a nexus between his current left knee disability and his in-service injury.