Knee Board decisions

The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed because the Veteran did not file a notice of disagreement to the January 2023 decision denying TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected right knee scar, and the Board dismissed the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee degenerative arthritis status-post joint replacement. The issues of entitlement to service connection for neck disability and shoulder disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and a VA examination for his cardiovascular disorder. The examiner will determine if the Veteran's current CV disorder is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right elbow, left elbow, right hand (fingers), left hand (fingers), right knee, and left knee disorders have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to service.

The Veteran's right and left knees have been rated based on painful motion, with no separate ratings for instability or flexion/extension.,Both knees are currently rated at the minimum of 10 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests to reopen her claims for coccyx disability, right ankle deltoid ligament strain, and left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain. The Veteran's claim for increased ratings of her right ankle deltoid ligament strain and left ankle lateral collateral ligament strain was also denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for CFS, urinary disability, and joint aches (excluding service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees) due to need for clarification regarding diagnoses and etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right shoulder and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran is entitled to a new, adequate VA examination addressing all of his current right shoulder conditions and left knee findings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as his claim for service connection for hypertension. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability and left knee disabilities due to deficiencies in the VA examinations, specifically regarding functional loss during flare-ups and repeated use.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on right shoulder strain, right knee disability, unspecified anxiety disorder, and entitlement to a TDIU have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development and verification of stressor events.,Additional clarification is needed regarding whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of pes planus and if it is related to his active-duty service. The AOJ will attempt to verify the Veteran's reported in-service foot pain and seek out any relevant medical records.,The AOJ must determine whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of shin splints, and if so, whether they are related to his active-duty service. Verification is needed for the stressor event witnessed by the Veteran at Camp Pendleton.,The AOJ will need to clarify whether the Veteran has left elbow lateral epicondylitis and determine its relationship to his active-duty service. The AOJ must also obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder, including any potential superimposed condition on a personality disorder.,For the right knee disability claims, additional development is needed as the examiner did not provide range of motion measurements in non-weight-bearing and provided no explanation for why these could not be performed. The AOJ will need to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pes planus was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's PTSD, combined with other service-connected conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to February 22, 2019. From that date onward, his PTSD alone meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has found deficiencies in the VA examination reports and has ordered further examinations to determine service connection for various disabilities, including psychiatric disorders, headaches, dizziness, hip and knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, bilateral knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea, and cardiac disability due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding their etiology. The VA is directed to obtain all of the Veteran's service treatment records related to his National Guard active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA service, schedule him for VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of these conditions, and readjudicate the claims based on the evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and has reopened the claim for a left hand disability. The case is remanded to obtain an examination for the left hand disability.

The Board has determined that further examination and opinion are needed for the Veteran's right knee condition, degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, and traumatic brain injury. The claims are being remanded to allow for these evaluations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disorder and whether it is related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 50 percent from June 10, 2022. The VA denied a higher rating as the evidence did not support findings consistent with ratings in excess of those assigned.