Knee decisions — 2021

The Veteran's tension headaches are not rated higher than the current 50 percent since October 25, 2017.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent effective October 25, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and right knee disability due to incomplete medical records and failure to consider all of the Veteran's contentions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to TDIU from June 5, 2018, to October 1, 2018, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports regarding functional loss caused by repetitive use over time and flare-ups for both right knee patellofemoral syndrome and left ankle synovitis.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with prior remand directives, and further development is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, including in his past work as a machine operator and receiving dock clerk. The Board grants the TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right and left knee strains, as well as his claim for TDIU due to the need for additional development of the medical records and work history.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions, diabetes mellitus type II, and asthma were denied. The denial was based on the lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, but denied service connection for low back and right knee disabilities. The claim for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, residuals of a nasal fracture, and headache disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The case is returned for further development.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral knee iliotibial band syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant higher ratings based on range of motion limitations.

The Veteran's hypertension is remanded due to an inaccurate factual premise in the VA medical opinion.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as there are no treatment records until 2011, and his statements regarding in-service onset and continuity of symptoms are considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with the duty to assist, specifically regarding an additional VA examination for the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee strain condition and its relation to service.

The Board dismissed the service connection claim for memory loss as it has been granted by the RO.,Increased ratings were denied for both right and left knee disabilities due to noncompensable limitation of motion.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for intervertebral disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The Board found that his lumbar spine did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to limitations in range of motion and lack of ankylosis.

The Veteran's chronic diarrhea is due to an undiagnosed illness presumptively related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. The claims for GERD, Barrett’s esophagus, hiatal hernia, and left knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for right and left knee disabilities have been reopened, but the appeals are still pending as further evidence is needed to determine if service connection can be established.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and instability have been rated at 10 percent since August 26, 2011. The appeal is denied as the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral knee condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than service-connected schizophrenia), a respiratory condition, a skin disorder, and high blood pressure. The case is being remanded to allow for these examinations.