Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee DJD are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of staged ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the right and left knees due to a lack of medical evidence addressing the Veteran's assertions regarding her knee pain during active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral foot conditions, did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 18, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain, right knee strain, and surgical scars of the right knee. Additionally, the TDIU claim prior to August 16, 2018, is also being remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically whether it was incurred or aggravated during her period of ACDUTRA in 2004. The Veteran seeks service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee strain and instability has been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 10 percent for his left knee strain, with a separate rating of 10 percent for his left knee instability.

The Veteran's gout, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are all remanded for further evaluation. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining updated medical records and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran's service-connected knee and back disabilities have a common etiology or are the result of a single accident, as this could potentially allow for an earlier effective date for TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus no further action will be taken on these claims.

The Veteran's service-connected status-post left knee ACL reconstruction is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his current symptoms and functional limitations.

The Veteran's left arm/hand numbness is granted service connection. The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty is granted a rating of 60 percent during specific periods. The Veteran's initial rating for his left shoulder degenerative joint disease is denied.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and remanded all other issues due to a failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a brain disorder, finding that the appellant did not have these conditions during his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA) from July 9, 1984 to August 20, 1984. The Board concluded that any preexisting conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the bilateral knees as secondary to hypothyroidism and a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism due to additional evidence being associated with his claims file.

The appeal regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss and erectile dysfunction is dismissed. A 50% disability rating for the Veteran's bilateral foot disability (heel spurs, plantar warts, hammer toes) is granted. The appeals regarding right knee, left knee disabilities, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination to determine if the Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, or right knee disability are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from August 8, 2011, through May 4, 2014, rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis with Baker's cyst and meniscal tear is rated at 30 percent since September 12, 2012. The rating for limitation of extension was denied from February 22, 2023 to present. A temporary total rating based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence following right knee surgery has been granted multiple times. TDIU is granted effective July 13, 2016.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right knee disabilities.,These conditions are deemed to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, lower back disorder, and bilateral shin splints due to a lack of persuasive evidence linking these conditions to his military service.