Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable since April 15, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from that date to September 28, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic sinusitis/rhinitis and a left knee disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. A VA examination is required to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee meniscal tear, as well as entitlement to a higher rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee prior to March 18, 2024.

The Veteran's right knee instability and posttraumatic degeneration were granted a separate rating of 10 percent from July 23, 2015 to September 15, 2015. The Veteran's left Achilles tendon rupture was denied prior to June 1, 2021.

The Veteran's hypertension is not service connected.,Obstructive sleep apnea, right forearm supination and pronation impairment, right forearm limitation of extension, and right forearm compartment syndrome with crush injury with fasciotomy are all granted as secondary to the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding a left toe disorder and service connection. The Veteran's initial disability rating of 60 percent for his left knee degenerative arthritis remains unchanged.

The Veteran's right knee disability, with limitation of flexion, is granted a 20 percent rating prior to December 6, 2022. The claim for higher ratings for the period from December 6, 2022 onwards remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to new information suggesting worsening of the Veteran's left knee disabilities, including pain and limitation of motion during flare-ups. The Veteran needs an updated examination to assess his current condition.

An effective date of September 16, 2015 for the award of a separate 20 percent disability rating for left knee meniscal tear is granted.,An initial disability evaluation of 30 percent for a left knee disability based on instability is granted.,The issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to June 3, 2024, for a left knee disability based on flexion is denied.,The issue of entitlement to a compensable disability rating from June 3, 2024, for a left knee disability based on flexion is denied.,The issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 40 percent prior to June 3, 2024, for a left knee disability based on extension is denied.,The issue of entitlement to disability rating in excess of 10 percent from June 3, 2024, for a left knee disability based on extension is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives. A new VA examination is required.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee DJD, right knee DJD, lumbar spine DDD, and cervical spine DDD as aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left shoulder arthritis, as well as right and left knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's in-service injuries have resulted in chronic symptoms of these conditions since separation from service.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities are rated at a 10 percent for limitation of extension and flexion, but no higher. The rating is denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on instability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a current left knee disability and its relation to service. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, but remanded the issue of service connection for a respiratory disability (other than sleep apnea), claimed as asthma.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition. The right and left knee conditions are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his back and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 40 percent for lumbar DDD or higher than 20 percent thereafter for right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the appeal for issues related to a right knee disability, including entitlement to increased ratings and whether a rating reduction was proper. The appeals are pending due to procedural deficiencies in issuing Statements of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development including a new VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral shoulder disability, neck disability, bilateral ankle disability, and bilateral knee disability due to the lack of current diagnosed disabilities related to these conditions.