Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition and a lumbar spine condition, both of which are determined to have begun during the Veteran's active duty.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The left eyebrow linear scar remains at 10 percent. The ratings for right face and neck residual scars are remanded due to insufficient evidence. TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete examination findings and lack of compliance with VA guidelines.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable or unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration of the appropriate rating(s) to be assigned for the left total knee replacement performed in April 2019 pursuant to the rating criteria under Diagnostic Code 5055.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, foot, shoulder, and back disabilities due to incomplete adjudication of his claims. The AOJ is required to provide a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) addressing these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including recurrent lumbar strain, sciatic radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, femoral radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and left knee strain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment for one year prior to January 14, 2016. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left ankle disorders due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability during active duty or any in-service injury. The VA examiner confirmed the presence of left knee osteoarthritis and tendinitis but found insufficient evidence to link these conditions to service.

The appeal for service connection claims related to a respiratory disorder, chronic right knee disability, and bilateral shin splints are dismissed. The Veteran's heart disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder claims are remanded. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation, including a retrospective opinion on the Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities and his claim of gout.

The Board has remanded three issues: right knee disability, low back disability, and carcinoid tumor/well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of the appendix. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all four issues related to service connection for left knee arthritis, GERD, hypertension, and G-6PD deficiency before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee torn ACL, back disability, and headaches due to potential etiological links to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for a visual disability, right knee disability, left knee disability (secondary to the right knee), and bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, a left upper extremity disability, and tinnitus.,Service connection is also remanded for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, right upper extremity disability, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left knee lateral instability since February 9, 2021 is granted. The claim for a higher rating before that date and the TDIU claim are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering his entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's right knee disability, resulting in chronic residuals of a prosthetic knee replacement with severe painful motion and weakness, has been granted a 60 percent rating since April 1, 2019.