Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical opinions to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability has been mainly manifested by pain and discomfort, but not to the extent that it meets the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right knee instability and meniscal tear are granted with a separate 20 percent rating. The arthritis of the right knee is granted at 10 percent, but not higher.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him substantially confined to his dwelling, the immediate premises, a ward or clinical area of an institution due to a service-connected condition. He does not have one disability that is rated as totally disabling and an additional disability or disabilities that are independently rated or ratable as at least 60 percent disabling.

The Board has reopened the claims for right hip pain and left knee condition, but denied them on their merits.,New evidence was submitted to reopen the claims, but it did not provide sufficient information to establish service connection.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for traumatic osteoarthritis of the right hip and right knee instability have been granted, with a 20% evaluation assigned from November 23, 2021 to the present for traumatic osteoarthritis of the right hip, limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's headache, right foot, and left foot disabilities are found to be related to his active service.,There is no evidence of a sleep disability other than sleep apnea in the record.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right knee disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an updated medical opinion regarding instability of the right knee.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted for the period from November 1, 2019, but not prior to that date. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran could secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further examination and opinions regarding service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, including status post right-total-knee arthroplasty. The issues include secondary causation and aggravation by other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II due to the lack of a current diagnosis.,The Board has remanded the claims for right ankle and right knee disabilities as well as respiratory disability (acute bronchitis) for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of VA knee examinations. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are also on appeal.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including tension headaches, allergic rhinitis, asthma with histoplasmosis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome were denied. The Veteran was not granted higher ratings or initial compensable ratings for several of her conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of right knee disability as there is no current diagnosis of a right knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 40 percent prior to September 29, 2015, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities. The rating for the right knee remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to address inadequacies in the February 2022 VA examination, and for further development regarding the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is granted as service-connected. The remaining issues of bilateral pes planus, bilateral plantar fasciitis, bilateral knee conditions, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities have been remanded due to the receipt of new and material evidence. The claim for an increased rating for concussion residuals has also been remanded.

The Veteran's right foot, left foot, right ankle, left ankle, and right knee disabilities are all found to be related to service.,Service connection is granted for a major depressive disorder with secondary alcohol abuse.

The Board has decided to remand several claims related to the Veteran's right knee disability, including rating appeals and issues regarding effective dates and TDIU. Further development is needed to obtain VA treatment records from January 2016 to January 2017.