Knee decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the Veteran not being afforded VA examinations, and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period from December 1, 2009 to September 7, 2010 is remanded due to insufficient evidence showing unemployability attributable solely to service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right hip, left knee, and right knee. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed all issues related to the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder and somatic symptom disorder, right shoulder impingement syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the spine with intervertebral disc syndrome L4-L5, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome, iliopsoas bursitis limitation of flexion, right hip trochanteric pain syndrome, iliopsoas bursitis, limitation of flexion, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right wrist sprain. The Veteran's bilateral eye condition, eczema, left foot ring-toe condition, and sinusitis have also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's employment and service-connected disabilities. The Veteran needs to provide updated VA Form 21-8940 or equivalent information.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for joint conditions including arthritis due to a lack of an adequate etiological opinion. The case is returned to the AOJ for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent for limitation of flexion, but not for extension. The appeal has been denied.,For the period prior to June 23, 2022, and from June 23, 2022 onwards, a separate compensable rating for instability of the left knee is granted.

The Veteran's claims for traumatic brain injury, left knee degenerative joint disease, and left ankle degenerative joint disease have been granted. The service connection is established based on direct evidence of the conditions during active duty.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on their current functional limitations and service-connected status.,The Veteran is not entitled to increased ratings for his left and right knee strains, but a separate rating has been granted for lateral instability of the knees.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee pain, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing conditions or aggravation during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his combined rating of service-connected disabilities has been at least 100 percent throughout the appeal period, and he was not found to be unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals to reopen his claims for service connection for headaches, bilateral hand and feet numbness, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and sexual dysfunction. The appeals are now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by his authorized representative.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of the Veteran's left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depressive disorder, bipolar disorder), and left ear hearing loss for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating claim for a left knee scar, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to issues related to his left and right knee disabilities, including limitations of motion. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for her right knee condition and scars related to a service-connected right knee condition was denied. The Board found that the current rating of 10 percent is appropriate based on limitation of motion.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 3, 2009 for the grant of a TDIU based on service-connected right and left knee disabilities. This is the earliest effective date available at law.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral knee disorders, abdominal pain (hernias), headache disorder, mental health disorder, and hypertension, have been denied.,There is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition and denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for her right ankle condition.