Knee decisions — 2022

The Veteran's right knee arthritis resulted in a rating of 50 percent from July 23, 2019. The highest possible rating for limitation of extension was granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluations due to inconsistencies in the current VA examinations and new evidence.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, and vertigo disabilities are granted as service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosed disability for his right knee, right hand, colon, bilateral foot, and acquired psychiatric disorder as a result of military service. The Board also found that there is no in-service event or evidence to demonstrate how these disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the presence of service-connected bilateral knee and back disabilities that make him unemployable. The Board will refer this issue for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable by reason of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of the disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability, including as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability; RLE radiculopathy; and LLE radiculopathy due to failure to obtain VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to potential worsening of her right knee disability and its associated surgical scar, requiring further examination and assessment.

The Board has remanded the cases due to errors in determining that higher ratings were not warranted for limitation of flexion and instability, as well as limitations on extension. The Veteran is required to undergo a new VA examination to assess the current nature of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The appeal for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability, left elbow lateral epicondylitis, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, and left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The appeals for increased ratings for left elbow lateral epicondylitis, right elbow lateral epicondylitis, and left knee DJD are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective from July 21, 2022.,The Veteran is granted a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from October 8, 2014, to March 19, 2020. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran was unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for various joint conditions, including arthritis and strain. The examiner is requested to provide more detailed opinions on the etiology and pathophysiology of these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than September 3, 2018 and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for migraine headaches. The Board also remanded two issues: service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome and service connection for a left knee disability secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the ratings of lumbosacral spine disc bulge, right knee osteochondritis dissecans with osteoarthritis and limited flexion, and residuals of left wrist fracture. The Board dismissed these claims as a result.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of proper notification regarding a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has dismissed all remaining claims that were not granted following a remand, including service connection for hypertension and various knee conditions, as well as ratings for GERD/gastritis.

The Veteran's service-connected back and bilateral knee disabilities prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as PTSD. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.