Knee Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current condition and her military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee condition is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that her preexisting conditions were not aggravated by active service and there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected right foot disabilities are rated at 10 percent, and he is denied a higher rating. Prior to May 11, 2017, the Veteran was not found unemployable due to his service-connected conditions. From May 11, 2017, the Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for an updated opinion on the combined functional impact of his service-connected disabilities prior to October 2, 2019. Additionally, updated SSA records are needed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased evaluations and service connection, as further examinations are required to assess the severity of his bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, calcaneal spurs, and first metatarsophalangeal joint arthritis, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right knee disabilities, diabetes mellitus, and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities due to inadequate compliance with prior remand orders.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right thigh, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during active service or are related to in-service injuries. The Board found no persuasive evidence linking current diagnoses to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete record. The Veteran's claims of service connection for psychiatric, lumbar spine, and left knee conditions are pending.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including malaria and its residuals, chloracne, cataracts, knee disabilities, jaw glands, polyps, cervical spine disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, diverticulitis, diabetes mellitus type II, fibromyalgia, lumbar spine disability, and left lower extremity neuropathy. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted a 40% rating from December 13, 2021 to September 28, 2022. A higher rating for the entire appeal period is denied. The right knee disability and limitation of flexion are also denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions and a need for new medical examination.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, right hip disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability (including MDD and anxiety) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.,There is no current diagnosis of a right hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia patella and for a separate rating for left knee instability due to outstanding private treatment records and additional examination.

The Veteran's right hip disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee and back disabilities. The earlier effective date for TDIU is set at July 17, 2014.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 50 percent, but no higher.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee and ankle disabilities as secondary to her left knee disability, as well as a claim for a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to July 14, 2012, finding that he did not meet the schedular criteria and there was insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases of right knee disability and TDIU due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, including incomplete responses regarding nerve or muscle group involvement, inconsistent responses about instability, and failure to address a December 2018 VA primary care note. Another remand is required for an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee and hip disabilities due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA examinations to determine the severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disorder and right knee disorder have been denied as they are not service-connected. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has also been denied.