Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including obtaining retrospective medical opinions to estimate range of motion and additional impairment due to pain at specific examination dates.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment during the period from September 22, 2009, to prior to December 16, 2017. Therefore, entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability is granted for this period.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for her thoracolumbar osteoarthritis and lumbosacral strain, as well as service connection for her left knee disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, sleep disorder (to include as due to service-connected deviated nasal septum and non-allergic rhinitis), and hypertension.,There is no evidence of any chronic knee condition during or within one year after service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension. The remaining claims of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, right ankle disability, a higher rating for GERD with hiatal hernia, pancreatitis, and pancreatic pseudocysts, and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 70 percent since June 17, 2021. The Board finds the Veteran's PTSD symptoms more nearly approximate the level of impairment contemplated by a 70 percent disability rating throughout the period on appeal. For his bilateral pes planus and right knee conditions, the ratings remain denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination for left knee disability, and a new examination is needed.

The Veteran's status postoperative left knee scar is granted a 10 percent evaluation prior to December 10, 2018 and no higher thereafter.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including a right knee disability, low back disability, gastrointestinal disability, psychiatric disability, and a disability characterized by internal bleeding. Additional medical evidence was added to the claims file but has not been considered yet.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of right knee disability due to new and material evidence submitted since the May 1989 rating decision. The case is remanded as there are outstanding VA treatment records and private medical records needed.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted initial disability ratings, with the exception of intervertebral disc syndrome with sacroiliac strain and degenerative arthritis, which has been increased to 40 percent effective June 16, 2021. The remaining conditions have received initial disability ratings ranging from 10 to 40 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, bilateral leg disability, and bilateral knee disability due to incomplete records and need for further medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities as they were not incurred in the line of duty during the appellant's ACDUTRA service from March 1982 to June 1982.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral lower extremity rheumatoid arthritis and denied increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's rheumatoid arthritis was not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and there is no competent evidence it is related to an in-service injury or disease. Increased rating claims for knees were also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral cataracts has been withdrawn. The Board granted a TDIU effective from December 10, 2014 to July 18, 2022.,Effective from July 18, 2022, the Veteran is in receipt of a combined disability rating of 100 percent due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional relevant medical evidence must be obtained and associated with the Veteran's claims file before a final decision can be made on her increased disability evaluation for scar, left index finger; service connection for right knee disorder; service connection for respiratory disorder (including allergies); and service connection for right ankle disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability and right knee disability, both related to the Veteran's active-duty service. The decision is based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic headache and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board has found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service.,For cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, additional development is needed as there are no current diagnoses provided by the VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence, including missing treatment records and a lack of an etiology opinion. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is now pending again.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy disabilities are not service-connected.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability is also not service-connected.