Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to ambiguities in the VA examiner's reports regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically related to range of motion and functional loss.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings on all issues due to untimely filing of substantive appeals.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and bilateral foot conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is secondary to his service-connected lumbar sprain, bilateral radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and left hip bursitis. The examiner must provide a new opinion addressing proximate causation and aggravation for each of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral foot disabilities due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and she is granted TDIU. The Veteran also meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee osteoarthritis as they require additional development, specifically obtaining VA examinations that include instructions to address any additional loss of range of motion during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability. The examiner must address the March 1978 VA examination, the Veteran's recent left knee replacement surgery, and whether this is indicative of a chronic left knee disability since his service.

The Board has determined that the reductions in ratings for right and left knee instability were improper, and has restored the original 20 percent ratings effective March 3, 2018. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings remain pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and right knee disabilities due to lack of current diagnoses and failure to report for necessary VA examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted an initial 10 percent rating prior to October 3, 2022. From that date onwards, the Veteran is entitled to a higher rating but not in excess of 10 percent. The Veteran's left ankle disability has been rated as 10 percent disabling throughout the appeal period.

The Board has restored the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis rating from 10% to 20%. The reduction was found to be improper due to a lack of evidence showing actual improvement in the Veteran's ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a gastrointestinal disability (other than gastroesophageal reflux disease) is denied. The claims for increased ratings of lumbar spine, right knee chondromalacia with quadriceps and popliteal tendinopathy and osteoarthritis, left knee chondromalacia with quadriceps and popliteal tendinopathy and osteoarthritis, and right knee meniscal tear are all denied. The Veteran's service-connected residual scars, bilateral gynecomastia, status post liposuction and bilateral subcutaneous mastectomy, and residual scars of the anterior trunk and chest do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional medical opinions regarding his lumbar spine, cervical spine, and left knee disabilities. The issues include determining if these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities and TDIU prior to February 6, 2020 was denied due to lack of evidence of current disabilities. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected left knee disability alone.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for eye, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disorders due to outstanding service treatment records and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee tibial stress fracture and left leg shin splints with left knee strain due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has granted the appellant's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, obesity, and lumbar spine disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5257.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disorders, finding that they are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.