Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee strain is granted as secondary to his service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy. The initial rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy was increased from 10 percent to 40 percent, effective September 18, 2008.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD. The decision is based on direct evidence of in-service injury and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions addressing secondary service connection, specifically obesity as an intermediate step. The Veteran's SSA records are also requested.

The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for her service-connected right knee and hypothyroidism conditions, as well as her claims for service connection for a right hip sciatic neuritis condition and/or a right leg condition are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral wrist and knee disabilities due to inconsistencies in the VA opinions provided, as well as gaps in medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ will seek additional evidence and obtain addendum opinions from qualified medical specialists.

The Board has remanded several rating decisions and service connection claims due to the submission of additional VA examination and treatment records since April 2019. The Veteran is advised to submit a waiver for these records or have them considered by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, bilateral shoulder disability, and bilateral knee degenerative joint disease due to missing service treatment records. Further efforts should be made to obtain these records from his Army National Guard service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left ankle, left knee, and contact dermatitis disabilities due to additional development being needed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, right shoulder, eye, and hearing loss disabilities due to new evidence submitted since the final denial in September 2006. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including a new VA examination for the right knee condition and consideration of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to the right knee condition.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the service-connected left wrist and left knee disabilities, finding that the current symptoms do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records need to be considered and a new supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) should be issued to address these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his bilateral knee disorders and their onset in service.

The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for left and right leg disabilities as they have been granted. The issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete VA examination results, and the issue of service connection for cervical spine disability is remanded due to an inadequate opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability and an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to February 24, 2022, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter for a back disability due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine, cervical spine, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The right knee increased rating claim is also being remanded.,The Veteran's TDIU request is inextricably intertwined with these other claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for migraines, right knee condition, and left hip condition due to insufficient evidence in the record. The Veteran's private treatment records need to be obtained, and a new VA opinion is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have resulted in a combined rating of 100 percent. As the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an award of special monthly compensation, as no disability is considered 100 percent disabling, plus an additional separate disability or disabilities combining to 60 percent disabling, his TDIU claim has been dismissed as moot.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability. The appeal was remanded to consider whether separate ratings should be granted for each knee due to instability.