Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee instability prior to November 7, 2016. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a new retrospective opinion from a qualified person to address these issues.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for right knee osteoarthritis was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's flexion limitation did not meet the criteria for higher ratings prior to October 21, 2020 and from October 21, 2020 onward.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal for service connection claims and a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with MDD prior to June 7, 2017. The appeals are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, service connection for left knee and right shoulder disorders, and HTN have been denied. The appeals are dismissed as the submitted evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The Board finds that the left knee disability has been productive of painful flexion, but noncompensable limitation of motion. A separate initial 10 percent rating is granted for painful extension from May 4, 2014. For instability, a 20 percent rating is granted from November 16, 2015 to August 29, 2022.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to December 27, 2011. The appeals for increased ratings are remanded as further development is required.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations for service connection claims related to bilateral big toe, knee, ankle disorders and right carpal tunnel syndrome. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and reconsideration due to new evidence received after a recent SSOC.

The Veteran's request for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee internal derangement, Osgood-Schlatter's disease, patellofemoral pain syndrome (limitation of motion) is remanded. The propriety of the reduction of ratings for both left and right knee internal derangement, Osgood-Schlatter's disease, to 0 percent is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 70 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder, as well as claims for service connection for left knee disorder and low back strain, have been granted. The claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury was denied.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not related to service, but has ordered a new examination to consider whether his PTSD led to obesity or aggravated it, which may be linked to his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as service connected due to herbicide exposure. The Board also remanded the issues of peripheral neuropathy, bilateral knee disorder, and skin disability for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for an intestinal condition, to include IBS, and generalized joint pain, to include orthopedic conditions of the right knee and bilateral hands. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active military service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of a right knee condition, so the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including rheumatoid arthritis affecting multiple joints, are remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to obtain medical opinions on whether the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee conditions are aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to insufficient reasoning and basis in denying her increased rating for left knee instability, as well as her claim for a separate rating for left knee instability. The case is also being remanded for further development of the record regarding service connection for back pain.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability and denied his claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims and the impact of obesity on his knee conditions.

The Veteran's lower back disability is granted a 20% rating for the period before November 14, 2018. For the period beginning November 14, 2018, a higher rating is denied. The left knee disability is granted a 20% rating for the period before November 14, 2018 and a higher rating is denied for the period beginning November 14, 2018.