Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's preexisting right knee and left foot conditions were aggravated during service, leading to the grant of service connection for these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and lower back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the onset of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability, left wrist disability, and nephrolithiasis are being remanded due to the need for additional VA opinions regarding her right and left knee disorders. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to November 1, 2016, is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disorder, and a separate disability rating for right knee instability due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to inadequate opinions in the previous examination reports. The Veteran is required to undergo further examinations to address these issues.

The Board has found that further development is necessary and the claims are being remanded for consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from February 1, 2007 to February 22, 2010. Therefore, a TDIU rating on an extraschedular basis is denied.

The Veteran is granted increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and meniscal tear, with the specific ratings being a 30% rating for limited flexion of the left knee due to degenerative arthritis, a 10% rating for limited extension of the left knee, and a 20% rating for instability of the left knee prior to December 27, 2022. The Veteran's meniscal tear is rated as 20% from December 27, 2022.

The Board has remanded the cases due to conflicting findings and insufficient examination reports. The Veteran's bilateral foot conditions, including pes planus and hammer toe, are unclear from the records provided. His left knee condition is also unclear but may be related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear employment status and needs clarification regarding the Veteran's current and past work history.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his military service. The TDIU claim was also denied as there is no evidence showing that the Veteran's PTSD alone rendered him unemployable.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is still necessary prior to the adjudication of the current appeal for service connection claims related to knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as a migraine headache. The Veteran will be provided another opportunity to submit necessary authorizations to obtain private medical records and attend VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his scar of the mid low back is denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine and tension headaches, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, sciatic radiculopathy of the left leg, sciatic radiculopathy of the right leg, finger joint pain, left knee condition, and right knee condition are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a separate rating for right knee instability and increased ratings for bilateral ankle tendinitis and bilateral knee disabilities. The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent, with the left knee disability also receiving a 30 percent rating effective from February 22, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to provide a VA examination related to his diabetes mellitus. The issues of service connection for impotence, neuropathy, nephropathy, peripheral vascular disease, amputation of the right second toe, and amputation of the left lower leg below the knee are also remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the DM II claim.

The Veteran's migraines and tinnitus are granted as service connected.,The Veteran's left knee condition and right knee condition are denied as service connected.,The Veteran's psoriasis and bilateral foot condition are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders, including arthritis and chondromalacia patella, began during his military service and have continued since then. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected left knee total replacement is granted, with the maximum schedular rating of 60 percent from January 1, 2012 to October 4, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for alcoholism was dismissed. The Board also remanded several other issues, including PTSD with depressive disorder, surgical scars of the right ankle, status post fracture of right ankle with ORIF, tendonitis of the left knee, actinic keratosis, and sleep apnea.