Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions due to a lack of VA examination and treatment records, as well as outstanding correctional facility medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and inextricably intertwined with TDIU issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's urinary/bladder disorder and left knee disorder were not caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on VA's part. The use of foley catheters during his total knee arthroplasty was within the standard of care.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities due to insufficient reasons provided in a previous VA opinion. The Veteran is required to provide an addendum opinion addressing his contentions of continuous pain since service.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and left below the knee amputation qualify him for specially adapted housing, as his disabilities preclude locomotion without assistive devices.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for denying initial ratings higher than 10 percent for left and right knee chondromalacia. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with an additional examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate development of his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis, degenerative arthritis of the spine, and radiculopathy. A new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee condition and the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee medial compartment arthrosis, status post anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, and degenerative joint disease is denied. A separate 10 percent rating, but not higher, for left knee limitation of extension as of April 6, 2023, but not earlier, is granted.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions provided in August 2023 are not sufficient to comply with the December 2022 remand directives. The claims for right ankle, right knee, and right thumb conditions must be returned for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it began during active service.,Service connection for the right knee condition and left knee condition were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to in-service complaints or events.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to a pending appeal under the Modernized Appeal System (AMA). The main issue is whether the Veteran meets the criteria for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 13, 2012. This decision does not address service connection or exposure basis.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings on his service-connected peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, knee disabilities, and varicose veins is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee disability, right knee arthritis, and dislocated right elbow, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since October 1, 2010. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for both the right and left knee disorders, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including his pre-service tibia fracture, has been rated at 30 percent since December 13, 2021. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay statements regarding symptoms during and after service.

The Veteran's right knee condition, including ankylosis and leg length discrepancy, is granted with a specific rating. Right knee instability is granted at 10% from July 26, 2018, to March 13, 2020, but denied for other periods.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions regarding his bilateral eye disorder, right knee disorders, left knee disorders, and left hip disorder.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 60 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5055 is already assigned and additional ratings under other diagnostic codes would constitute pyramiding.