Knee Board decisions

The Board finds that further development is required for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot hallux valgus deformity and left knee arthritis, as secondary to his service-connected right foot condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left carpal tunnel syndrome, right flat foot, and a left knee condition. The claim for reopening service connection for back/thoracic spine condition due to secondary service-connected cervical spine disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional evaluations of his service-connected right hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee laxity from June 12, 2015. The issue of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine/neck, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee disability was rated at 10% prior to August 31, 2022, and at 30% thereafter. The Veteran's instability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5257.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to a withdrawal request from the Veteran's authorized representative.

The Veteran's right knee strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to limited flexion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the nature and origin of his disorders. The VA must obtain additional records from private providers and provide new VA opinions that consider all evidence of record, including the Veteran's lay statements.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of the temporary total evaluation for convalescence due to partial revision left knee surgery beyond October 31, 2017 is denied.,The Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 30 percent for his left and right knee disabilities are denied.,The Veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee from May 11, 2016 is granted.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with lumbosacral strain and spinal stenosis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is denied.,The Veteran's claim for SMC based on housebound status, for periods other than September 12, 2017, to November 1, 2017, is denied.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, as the prior examinations did not comply with VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his failure to report for VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions regarding various service connection claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the failure to properly notify him of scheduled VA examinations. The Board will determine whether he was notified at his correct address and if there were any issues with the delivery.

The rating reductions from 70 percent to 50 percent effective August 1, 2017, for PTSD and from 30 percent to 10 percent effective August 1, 2017, for bilateral knee disabilities were proper based on sustained improvement in these conditions.,Issues related to service connection have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorders, lumbar spine disorder, and respiratory disorder. The cases are remanded for further development including obtaining VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome effective October 24, 2016.,The Veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for limitation of left knee flexion effective April 9, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand requests. The Veteran's claim is being returned for further development, including obtaining a medical examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's hip and knee disabilities are caused or aggravated by his service-connected foot disability.

The Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral dysfunction, service connection for hypertension, left knee disability, psychiatric disorder, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and left ear hearing loss are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded as the examiner did not address whether in-service elevated blood pressure readings could have been an early manifestation of later diagnosed hypertension.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is remanded because the VA examiner did not consider objective signs and symptoms of his left knee complaints, including a history of left knee sprain from employee health clinic records.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded as the VA examiner did not address the Veteran's VA treatment records which show treatment for adjustment disorder, depression, and anxiety during the period on appeal.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded due to incomplete medical records from his private podiatrist being sought.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded as VA treatment records are needed to determine if an audiogram conducted by the Veteran's private physician, Dr. N.A.O., around April 2010 exists.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches from September 22, 2014 is remanded as updated employment records are needed to determine missed time due to migraines and the Social Security Administration records have not been obtained.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded as his July 2020 Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability raised this issue.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided for each condition were inadequate and remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's service records contain numerous complaints of ankle, knee, and foot pain. She underwent VA examinations in July 2020 where diagnoses of bilateral tibia stress fracture, bilateral ankle strain, and bilateral plantar fasciitis were found.