Knee Board decisions

The appeals for increased ratings for right and left knee conditions, bilateral pes planus, and lumbar spine DJD have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her appeal of these issues.

The Board has decided to remand all the claims for further review due to new evidence obtained after the February 2020 statement of the case.

The appellant's appeal for a compensable disability rating for scarring of the right wrist is dismissed.,The appellant's disability ratings for his right knee and right wrist disabilities are restored to 10 percent effective November 2, 2018.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including GERD, lumbar spine disability, right hip scar, and foot disabilities. The Veteran will need further examinations to determine the severity of his conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, left ankle disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of the bilateral legs are all granted as service-connected.,There is no specific rating assigned or effective date provided in this decision.

The Board has remanded several claims for additional action due to the possibility that relevant SSA records have not been obtained.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure compliance with prior remands and to provide a retrospective opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee disability. The issues of increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities are being remanded.

The Board has withdrawn the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left great toe hallux valgus. The claim of service connection for a left knee disability is reopened and remanded due to new evidence suggesting it may be related to the Veteran's right hip disability. Other issues are also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for heat stroke and thyroid disorder, as well as left knee and right knee disorders. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during or were related to active service.,The Veteran's complaints of knee pain in service were noted but no specific diagnoses were made. Post-service records also showed chronic knee pain without any indication of heat stroke or thyroid disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability and right knee disability due to incomplete development of service treatment records, particularly regarding a parachuting accident in 1980. The VA is required to obtain these records and schedule the appellant for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for iliotibial band syndrome of the right and left knees was denied, while his claim for service connection for sciatica of the right lower extremity as secondary to service-connected chronic lumbar strain was granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right knee scars has been withdrawn due to the Veteran no longer wanting to proceed. The Board has also dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for a right knee disability, as it is remanded for additional development.

An increased 50 percent rating for a thoracic/lumbar spine disability is granted.,Prior to June 21, 2019, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude substantially gainful employment. Since June 21, 2019, his acquired psychiatric disability has made it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.,Since June 21, 2019, the Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower back, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, right knee, left wrist, and right wrist disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing service connection.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability can be adjudicated. The claims file must be updated with the Veteran's SSA records and earning reports, and the case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The opinions are needed to determine if OSA is caused or aggravated by asthma, and whether obesity/weight gain is a substantial factor in causing OSA. Additionally, the examiner must consider all lay evidence, including the Veteran's statements.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for recurring facial rash. The cases of right ankle condition, right shoulder condition, and right knee condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for left knee degenerative joint disease and service connection for a heart disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of his conditions from October 21, 2008 onwards. The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating is remanded for a retrospective opinion on the severity of his left knee DJD. The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded for further development regarding potential herbicide exposure and to obtain a TERA memorandum.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a separate disability rating for left knee instability are remanded due to inadequate medical evidence in the record.