Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion and incomplete private treatment records.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted a rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the remand. Separate ratings for symptomatic residuals post-operative medial meniscectomy and scar residuals post-operative medial meniscotomy are also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 13, 2016.

The Veteran's right knee disability, rated at 30 percent since June 1, 2017, is denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also denied as his service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of evidence, including range of motion testing in both active and passive motion and in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings assigned for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.,The Veteran's appeal of the initial rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy, PTSD, TDIU prior to September 28, 2021, and SMC at the housebound rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is also being remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities due to an inadequate VA examination and opinion. The examiner concluded that the current knee disabilities are not related to active service, but the Board finds this conclusion based on incomplete records.

The Veteran's left knee disability resulted in chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion, and a rating of 60 percent for the entire period on appeal is granted. The issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right and left ankle disorders, right and left knee disorders, low back disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities meeting VA's regulatory definition of a hearing loss disability or any other qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA medical records and a need for further development, including potential new examinations or opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination for left knee instability. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee instability is still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and ankle arthralgia, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury related to his knees. The claim was also denied on a secondary basis as the Veteran's right foot disabilities are not found to have caused or aggravated his left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examinations and requests for a new examination to determine if the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are related to service or secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and shin disabilities due to insufficient evidence on file.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA examination of the right knee due to inadequate testing in previous examinations.

The Veteran's right fifth finger strain is rated at the maximum possible level, and a higher rating cannot be assigned.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or continuity since service. The Board found that PTSD does not cause or aggravate the Veteran's sleep apnea.,The Veteran's right knee condition was denied due to lack of a current disability and failure to establish a link between his active service and his current condition.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical strain, left knee bipartite patella with degenerative joint disease, and right knee bipartite patella with degenerative joint disease are all being remanded for further development due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee PFPS and service connection for a right shoulder disability were both denied. The denial was based on the lack of evidence supporting these claims.