Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and a gunshot wound to the right knee, do not render him unemployable. The Board finds that he is capable of performing sedentary work such as clerical or office tasks.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU rating as they are not severe enough to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for right knee total arthroplasty is denied as of May 1, 2017. Ratings for limitation of extension and flexion are also denied prior to May 1, 2017. A separate 30 percent rating for instability is denied prior to May 1, 2017.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, but his right ankle disability does not warrant an extraschedular rating. The claims for sleep apnea and entitlement to an extraschedular TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back, bilateral hip, right and left knee, and bilateral hand disabilities. The reasons include insufficient evidence to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis and total knee arthroplasty have been rated, but the Board has found that additional development is needed for issues related to his left knee instability.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and VistA images. The Veteran will need new VA examinations for his mesangiopathic glomerulopathy, bilateral knee disabilities, and thoracic spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability, low back disability, and right ankle disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are now pending before VA for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right-knee condition and a right-hand condition due to inadequate examinations in October 2020. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records, including Social Security Administration (SSA) records, and undergo VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for loss of sense of smell and right knee disability. The other issues are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of evidence showing an increase in severity during service or any other causal relationship.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee strain, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disorders are not manifested by ankylosis or flexion limited to 30 degrees, and the preponderance of evidence shows that their disabilities do not meet criteria for ratings in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, as well as the rating for right knee instability and limitation of motion. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease has been rated at 10 percent, and the right knee tendonitis/tendinosis with prosthetic knee has been rated at 30 percent. The Board has found these ratings to be inadequate and remanded for further development.,The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease and right knee tendonitis/tendinosis with prosthetic knee, status post revision surgery.

The Board has decided to remand several issues for further development, including service connection claims and a rating increase claim. The Veteran's right knee disability, hypertension, IBS, ED, OSA, and vision loss disability are all being reviewed due to the need for additional medical opinions or examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee and shoulder disabilities due to a lack of diagnosis in service records, but with current symptomatology. Further development is needed to determine if there is any functional impairment caused by reported pain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, along with pseudofolliculitis barbae, do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.