Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee condition is rated at 10 percent for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, limited flexion, and meniscal impairment. The rating of 20 percent after April 27, 2022, for limited extension is also granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot, left foot, and right knee disabilities are related to his service. However, further examination is needed to determine if these conditions have been diagnosed or if they are due to his service.,The Veteran's OSA claim will be remanded as a VA medical opinion is necessary to address whether it is secondary to his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's PTSD is evaluated at a 50% rating prior to June 30, 2022 and at a 70% rating thereafter. The Board denied an increased evaluation for PTSD.,Service connection for OSA and left knee condition are remanded as the VA examinations did not address the Veteran's claims in full.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, left knee, right knee, left foot, and back conditions due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's knee and spine conditions are remanded for further examination. His respiratory, heart, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathy disabilities are also remanded due to the similar nature of the issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee torn medial meniscus disability and left knee instability/ recurrent subluxation, due to incomplete information provided by the Veteran regarding his treatment with a private medical provider. The AOJ is required to request this missing information from the Veteran and obtain any relevant records.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee and left foot disorders, as well as initial compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, right foot plantar fasciitis, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, sinusitis, left ankle arthritis, and rosacea are remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical opinions and missed examinations. The AOJ is required to obtain updated treatment records, provide medical opinions regarding the etiology of diabetes, OSA, right knee condition, and headaches, and reschedule the Veteran for a headache examination.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine have been granted. The remaining issues, including right knee disability, left foot disability, and tingling skin of the left knee and leg, are being remanded for further evaluation.,New evidence has reopened the Veteran's claims for tinnitus and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, leading to their grant. However, additional evaluations are needed to determine service connection for other conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities due to additional evidence added after the January 2021 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 13, 2023. Beginning on that date, his TDIU is granted due to the grant of a 100% rating for PTSD. The issue of SMC based on housebound status has been dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service connected due to arthritis that has been present since her separation from active duty.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of November 28, 2016 for the award of a 20% evaluation for tender scars on the dorsum of the right toes. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted with an effective date of November 28, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection and increased rating for arthritis, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability due to a lack of approval from the State Approving Agency (SAA) for the private pilot course at MidCoast Aviation. The claim was not dependent on education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ARDS is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of ARDS. The cases involving left knee, right knee, nasal disorder, sinusitis, and pulmonary disorder are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding potential service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's character of discharge for his second period of service from October 28, 2012, through March 18, 2016, is a bar to receipt of VA benefits. However, due to potential insanity at the time of misconduct, additional development is required to determine if this discharge should be considered non-barred.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions have been remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.,No current diagnoses or functional impairments were found for some of the claimed conditions, leading to denial of service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of current diagnoses for some conditions. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the etiology of his bilateral knee, shoulder, and esophageal spasm disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU prior to July 7, 2017 are remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck disability, lung disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence. The claim for PTSD remains pending.