Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected internal derangement of the medial meniscus of the right knee is currently rated at 20 percent, reflecting moderate impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and incomplete medical records. The issues include back, neck, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral knee disabilities as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for left knee and headache claims before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability rendered him unable to work in physical labor or sedentary environments, leading the Board to grant a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis as of August 10, 2011.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as bilateral foot disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active service or secondary to her service-connected lumbar spine disability.,There is no persuasive medical evidence linking the appellant’s current diagnoses of right and left shoulder strains, right and left knee osteoarthritis, and right and left foot degenerative arthritis and heel spurs to her military service.

The Veteran's knee disabilities and hemorrhoids were evaluated, with the knee conditions rated as 10% for limitation of extension and instability, and the hemorrhoids rated at 20%. The Board found no basis to grant higher ratings. Service connection was remanded for low back and ankle disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected right knee joint osteoarthritis, as well as for any additional pertinent records. The earlier effective date issue is not addressed due to lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's current left knee strain, right knee degenerative joint disease, and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's neck disability is denied as not incurred in or related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition, head injury, left knee strain, and right ankle strain have been denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ankle strain has been remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for thoracolumbar strain has also been remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, bilateral knee, left hip, and bilateral foot disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU since February 16, 2011. His combined rating of 80% effectively grants his claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for left knee limited flexion and for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for left knee limited extension due to insufficient evidence in the October 2021 VA examination report.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 1, 2020 due to unclear time period addressed in the VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and effective dates have been dismissed. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from November 18, 2015 through January 24, 2017 due to his service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder with secondary alcohol abuse.

The Board has granted a temporary total rating for the Veteran's partial right knee replacement from March 16, 2016 to March 16, 2017. A minimum rating of 30 percent is granted for the period beginning March 17, 2017. SMC based on housebound status is granted from March 16, 2016 to March 16, 2017. The Board has also remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected partial right knee replacement.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical examinations. The issues include psychiatric disorders, cognitive conditions, thrombocytopenia, tinnitus, hypertension, foot conditions, knee conditions, and shoulder conditions.

The Veteran's claims for left-ear hearing loss and right-ear hearing loss have been granted. Claims for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, low back disorder, and acquired mental disorder (PTSD) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran's left knee disorder, sinusitis, and sleep apnea are all granted as service-connected. The left knee disorder is linked to his service-connected right knee disability. Sinusitis is presumed due to exposure to fine particulate matter during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of operations. Sleep apnea is considered presumptive based on its manifestation within 10 years from separation and a confirmed diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and narcolepsy due to inadequate examination opinions. The claims will be returned for further development.