Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that new evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of a left knee disability. However, the case is being remanded as further medical examination and opinion are needed to determine if the Veteran's current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, is related to service and granted. The issue of service connection for fatigue (chronic fatigue syndrome) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the listed conditions have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the right knee and lateral instability of the right knee have been denied as his conditions do not warrant higher ratings based on current diagnostic criteria.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, neck conditions, bilateral knee conditions, joint conditions, and back conditions. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or any period of active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle, right knee, and back disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities are remanded for further examination.,Evidence of record does not support the reopening of claims for bilateral hip disabilities due to lack of a clinically diagnosed disability.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings on multiple service-connected conditions has been dismissed. The Board also dismissed the appeal regarding a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities from May 11, 2015 through April 19, 2016 and since October 21, 2022.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar strain, left knee status-post ACL repair with degenerative arthritis, and right knee patellofemoral chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis. The conditions are found to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various ankle, hip, and knee conditions are being remanded due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the direct and secondary service connection bases.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbosacral strain are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service right knee injury. The claim will be reconsidered with an addendum VA medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, including consideration of any aggravation by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's left knee disorder was not productive of frequent episodes of 'locking,' pain, and effusion into the joint; limitations of flexion; limitation of extension; x-ray evidence of involvement of 2 or more major joints or 2 or more minor joint groups, with occasional incapacitating exacerbations; or recurrent subluxation or lateral instability prior to June 8, 2012.,From June 8, 2012 to December 16, 2020, the Veteran's left knee disorder manifested consistent with a 40 percent rating for degenerative joint disease and medial meniscus tear status post arthroscopy. On or after December 17, 2020, the Veteran's left knee disorder is manifested by no more than a limitation of extension to 5 degrees, a limitation of flexion to 55 degrees, and no recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.,Prior to December 17, 2020, resolving all doubt in the Veteran's favor, the Veteran's right knee disorder manifested consistent with a 40 percent rating for degenerative joint disease. On or after December 17, 2020, at worst the Veteran's right knee disorder was manifested by limited extension to 30 degrees.,The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disorder have not been met prior to June 8, 2012.,From June 8, 2012 and December 17, 2020, the criteria for an evaluation of 40 percent for a left knee disorder have been met. On or after December 17, 2020, the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for a left knee disorder have not been met.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, and left knee disabilities. The conditions are presumed to have been incurred during active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and failure of the Veteran to appear for scheduled examinations. The Veteran is advised that she must cooperate with examination requests.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and remanded the claims for service connection for depressive disorder. The Veteran's current psychiatric disabilities, including PTSD and depressive disorder, are also under consideration.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder with PTSD, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee and left total knee replacement residuals are remanded due to the need for further VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right-hand disability. However, the issue of service connection for a right knee disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and hip disabilities for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, skin condition, left knee disability, and TDIU due to a lack of recent VA examinations and insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding the withholding of VA compensation benefits payments for military drill pay and the determination of entitlement to TDIU. The Veteran's right knee and right ankle disabilities are at issue.