Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right knee replacement, combined ratings exceeding 60 percent, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are remanded due to inadequate development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise as to whether the Veteran had right knee instability, warranting a separate 10% disability rating. Other issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to incorrect characterization of issues, changes in contact information, and scheduling errors. The Veteran is seeking service connection for an allergy to penicillin and increased ratings for various disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 30 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder has been withdrawn.,Service connection for low back and knee conditions have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's left knee limitation of flexion is rated at 10 percent, and left knee instability from March 19, 2014, is granted. The right ankle disability claim has been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and consideration of his service connection claims, including a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his left knee disorder and psychiatric disability. The rating for his back disability is also remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left ankle, right ankle, and right knee disabilities as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the claims of increased ratings and TDIU, as indicated in the April 2022 supplemental statement of the case. The Veteran's right hip, knee, foot, and left foot disabilities are being remanded to issue rating decisions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The right knee was rated at 10% prior to December 12, 2019, and at 20% from that date onwards. For the lumbar spine, a 40% rating was granted effective January 15, 2014, with TDIU also being granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further evaluation due to unclear functional loss and incomplete examination reports.

The Board has remanded the claims for posttraumatic stress disorder, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, bilateral foot condition, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, right knee pain, left knee pain, degenerative disc disease, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, sleep apnea, and benign prostatic hypertrophy due to incomplete service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and sinusitis have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The issues of service connection for these conditions are now on appeal.,Service connection is denied for a cervical spine disorder as there is no chronic in-service injury or disease that caused the current disability.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the remand directives and thus the claims for service connection of right shoulder, back, and right knee disabilities are being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee instability, limitation of extension prior to October 23, 2015, and limitation of extension from October 23, 2015, to October 27, 2021, has been denied. The current rating for left knee instability is 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability, resolving the benefit of doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for back and left knee disabilities due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.,Service connection is granted for a back disability, but the claim for left knee disability remains remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for a bilateral knee condition, including as a result of undiagnosed illness; service connection for a disability manifested by joint pain, claimed as polyarthritis, including as the result of undiagnosed illness; and service connection for a low back disorder due to unresolved issues related to medical opinions and whether these conditions qualify as MUCMI.

The Veteran's right knee laxity is rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as his instability does not meet the criteria for more severe disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for her left knee disabilities was denied. The rating of over 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis prior to January 8, 2020 is denied. A rating of 30 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis manifesting in favorable ankylosis as of January 8, 2020 is granted. A rating of 10 percent for left knee instability as of January 10, 2019 is granted. The claim for a higher rating for left knee instability as of January 8, 2020 is denied.