Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities was denied as he did not provide the necessary information in a VA Form 21-8940, and there is no indication of his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU from January 26, 2012 is granted. The Board also remanded the matter of an extraschedular TDIU prior to January 26, 2012 for further consideration.

The Veteran's TDIU appeal is remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding his employment history and the impact of his service-connected disabilities on his ability to work. The issue will be referred for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left knee strain and low back disability due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a 60 percent rating for psoriasis is granted. The appeal to readjudicate service connection for residuals of a right finger fracture, headaches, insomnia, left knee condition, right knee condition, and back condition is granted.

The Board has granted revision of the November 1982 rating decision that continued a 10 percent disability rating for multiple residual shell fragment wound scars, and implicitly denied separate ratings for four individual painful scars. The decision finds clear and unmistakable error in not assigning four separate 10 percent ratings for the Veteran's painful scars.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain, increased evaluations for left femur fracture and left knee instability, and left knee limitation of flexion. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis or link to military service.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, as there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the December 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic headaches prior to July 12, 2022 is granted. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of his bilateral knee condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder to include psoriatic arthritis, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete examination reports and procedural issues.

The Board denied all claims for increased ratings for the Veteran's knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's PTSD, low back degenerative disc disease, left knee degenerative joint disease (limitation of flexion), and right knee degenerative joint disease (limitation of extension) have been granted increased ratings. The effective date for these increases is April 16, 2018.

The Board has granted service connection for the aggravation of a left knee disability by bilateral shin splints, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have resulted in a loss of use of both legs, warranting higher level SMC.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee (limited extension) prior to May 16, 2017 and beginning May 16, 2017, as well as for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee (limited flexion).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status, as his disability picture does not render him bedridden or in need of constant care.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to failure to report to VA examinations and other procedural issues. The Board has broadened the claims to include Gulf War Syndrome-related conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of increased rating for tinnitus, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left heel and foot disability, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, neurological disability of the left leg, and neurological disability of the right leg are now pending.

The Veteran's initial rating for an undiagnosed illness manifested by throat pain has been granted. Service connection for heartburn is also granted. The cases of sleep apnea, bilateral eye disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all remanded.