Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate statements of reasons or bases and failure to ensure VA's duty to assist.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to concerns about the competency of the VA examiner who conducted the recent examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of secondary service connection due to his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to unresolved issues regarding his right hand, wrist, and knee disabilities. The Board will further develop the evidence before making a decision.

The Veteran's essential tremors are rated as noncompensable, but the Board has found that they warrant a 30 percent rating. The knee issues have been remanded for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current knee disorders are related to her military service. The appeal is remanded for a review of additional VA evidence regarding an increased disability rating for bilateral pes planus.

The Board has restored the Veteran's left and right knee ratings to 20 percent effective November 16, 2022. The issues of increased rating for knees prior to August 18, 2020, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to April 24, 2020 was denied as the evidence did not show he could not secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due solely to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board finds that additional medical opinions are needed to address whether the Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is an additional disability superimposed upon his congenital deformity and whether his left knee degenerative arthritis is related to his service, including in-service reports of pain and stiffness behind the left knee.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, bilateral hips and knees are granted.,Service connection is also granted for left hip degenerative arthritis, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and right hip degenerative arthritis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are etiologically related to active service, granting their claims for service connection.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for higher initial ratings for right knee strain with shin splints, left knee strain with shin splints, and tension headaches. The appeal of a higher initial rating for left hip strain is remanded due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee flexion and instability have been withdrawn, effectively dismissing the claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and earlier effective dates for various disabilities, including left knee meniscus tear, lower extremity radiculopathy, shoulder strain, rotator cuff tendonitis, and upper extremity radiculopathy. The increased rating claim was also denied.,The Board found that there is no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's current diagnoses and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and a right hand disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to missed VA examinations. The Veteran will need to be contacted by the RO to confirm his availability for these exams.

The Board has remanded the claims for extraschedular disability ratings and TDIU due to a lack of clarity in whether the Veteran's depression is related to his service-connected right knee disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for further consideration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a separate rating for limitation of flexion prior to March 29, 2023 and for a higher rating for limitation of flexion beginning March 29, 2023. The claim for eligibility for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment was granted.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), a cervical spine disability, a thoracolumbar spine disability, a right knee disability, a left foot disability, and a right foot disability should be remanded due to an error in docketing.