Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot and knee disorders, including as secondary to his service-connected psoriasis. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on chronic pain and functional impairment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee, right knee, and thoracolumbar spine disabilities are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability, an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD prior to November 6, 2019, and TDIU due to PTSD. The Veteran's attorney raised a claim for TDIU by indicating that the Veteran is unable to work due to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and non-compliance with previous remand directives. The claim is being returned for further development.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection of low back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder need more information from the Veteran's Reserve service records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and verify all periods of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's right hip and right knee disorders are being remanded for further examination to determine if they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disorder, low back disorder, and/or radiculopathy.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% rating, and he is granted SMC from March 30, 2020. The TDIU claim prior to March 30, 2020, is dismissed as moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right hand, left hand, right knee, and left knee rheumatoid arthritis disorders are not related to his active service. The Veteran's left wrist disorder is also not linked to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee nerve impairment, finding no current diagnosis of such condition and thus not meeting the first element required for service connection.

The Board denied an increased rating for right knee DJD and remanded the issue of increased disability rating for right knee instability, status postanterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee bone spur with DJD, left knee instability, and left knee arthroscopic surgery residual scar are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities and for entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to inconsistencies in the May 2023 examination report and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% rating, and the cases for migraines and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently assigned a noncompensable evaluation.,Service connection for the right knee disorder, left arm disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder are all denied.,Service connection for diabetes, back disorder, shoulder disorder, TBI (head injury) with memory loss, neck disorder, hypertension (high blood pressure), cerebral vascular accident (CVA, strokes), headaches, and PTSD is also denied.,The Veteran's vision loss was not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service. The VA will also obtain updated treatment records, conduct TERA examinations, and schedule further examinations as needed.

The Veteran's right and left knee lateral instability disorders are now rated as 20 percent disabling for the duration of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current right knee disorder is related to his military service. The case will be reviewed again with a new medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee and low back disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence on file regarding functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease as due to exposure to herbicide agents is granted.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis and coronary artery disease is granted, effective August 10, 2022. The appeal for the period prior to this date remains in appellate status.

The Veteran withdrew their claims for various disabilities, including patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis of the right knee, right knee instability, left knee disability, skin condition, and back injury. As a result, these appeals are dismissed.