Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected anxiety disorder, combined with other disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU and SMC housebound effective August 21, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and multiple orthopedic conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that he meets the requirements for a TDIU based on his combined disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including unspecified depressive disorder), symptoms attributable to alcoholism, left and right knee conditions, sleep disorder, colloid cyst, and migraines. The Veteran's statements and medical records are considered in determining the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's knee disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right knee disability and post-operative right knee scar due to a lack of compliance with VA examination requirements.

The Veteran's service-connected herniated disc disease, L4-L5, with adjacent level disease at L3-L4 status post laminectomy and fusion L3-L5, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, surgical scars of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee disabilities are all remanded for further evaluation.,The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder, recurrent episode, moderate, with generalized anxiety disorder is also remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and has ordered the case to be remanded again for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot, right knee, and left knee disorders due to a lack of findings on the competency or credibility of evidence. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative joint disease. The case is now back before the Board.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome as there was no evidence of chronic disability in service or within one year after separation, and the Veteran's current conditions were not related to her military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder and remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disorder.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate disorder, heart disorder, and hypertension have been denied.,The Veteran's right knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, sciatica, and respiratory disorder claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's current knee disabilities and his service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability. The remaining issues of secondary service connection for various disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to the failure to schedule and notify him of an examination related to his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran was also requested to provide updated employment information and VA Form 21-8940.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with other disabilities, has prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation since August 25, 2017. The Board granted TDIU prior to June 4, 2018, but dismissed the claim as moot after that date due to the Veteran's 100% rating for PTSD.

Your appeals for service connection of right and left knee disorders have been dismissed as the AOJ has already awarded them.

The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to August 19, 2017 was denied as he had been employed full-time and able to secure a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right and left knee arthritis have been denied. The VA has determined that the current 10 percent ratings are appropriate given the limited range of motion and pain reported by the Veteran.

The Veteran's combined disability rating is 100 percent from February 29, 2012. The RO denied entitlement to a TDIU prior to February 29, 2012, or based on a single service-connected disability.