Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a back condition, including as due to a right knee disability is being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis with limitation of flexion was denied for ratings in excess of the assigned levels. His left knee instability was also denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation and rating considerations.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and assessments of his left knee disability, including functional loss during flare-ups and after repeated use.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and degenerative disc disease L5-S1 are rated as noncompensably disabling. The right and left knee disabilities each receive a 10 percent rating for limitation of extension, while the L5-S1 disability receives a 20 percent rating prior to September 24, 2018, and a 40 percent rating thereafter. The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination regarding his back disability.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the appellant's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a low back injury was granted, and secondary service connection for a low back disability due to his bilateral knee disability is also granted. The Veteran's TDIU claim throughout the appeal period is also granted.,Throughout the appeal period, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for bilateral pes planus, gout, ankle/foot disability manifested by instep and heel pain, other than pes planus, and a knee disability due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to inadequacies in previous examinations and inconsistencies in representation.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261 for left knee conditions prior to February 16, 2021. The Veteran also has no compensable ratings for his left upper extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of low back disability, bilateral knee condition, bilateral hip condition, acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been withdrawn. The case is REMANDED to obtain additional evidence and provide a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for soft tissue calcification beneath the lateral malleolus, left ankle is denied as there is no evidence of marked limited motion or ankylosis.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU from March 14, 2023, is dismissed because his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to that date.

The appeals for increased ratings for PTSD, tinnitus, left knee tendonitis/tendinosis, and left ankle sprain residuals are dismissed. The appeals regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, TBI with associated headaches and sleep apnea, lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis (limitation of extension), and right knee tendonitis (limitation of flexion) are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of right ankle condition and bilateral knee arthritis. The Board found that new evidence supports reopening the left foot condition claim and established a link between current disability and service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and referring the claim of entitlement to TDIU to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation and Pension Services for consideration of assignment of a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis prior to November 17, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to outstanding private medical records and issues regarding competency of VA examiners. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the knees.

The Board has granted service connection for a left foot disability, right knee condition, left knee condition, and low back pain.,All conditions are related to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI, bilateral knees, left metatarsal avulsion residuals, left wrist condition, and migraines are being remanded for further evaluation due to the potential worsening of these conditions.,The Veteran's rib/sternum condition, left ankle condition, bilateral shoulder conditions, insomnia, and kidney condition (claimed as rhabdomyolysis) are also being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right knee patellofemoral syndrome, ankylosis and instability of the right knee, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), did not meet the minimum threshold requirements for schedular TDIU. However, she is entitled to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from January 3, 2013 to January 2, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for new VA examinations and medical opinions regarding her right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities due to inadequate development and lack of compliance with previous remand directives.