Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various disabilities and initial rating determinations. The main reasons are due to insufficient evidence or need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions due to a lack of compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, right hip, PFB, and HTN disorders as they are not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and low back disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of direct service incurrence or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to failure to properly notify him of scheduled examinations and obtain etiology opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee bursitis, left knee bursitis, and low back disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU as they do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for bilateral knee disorders, low back disorder, and bilateral foot disorders due to insufficient medical opinions addressing potential service connection based on in-service symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for right and left foot, ankle, knee, and hip disorders as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected mild lumbosacral strain.

The Board has found that the RO did not substantially comply with its previous remand directives and requires further development to ensure a complete record for decision.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the right knee degenerative arthritis status post total knee arthroplasty and TDIU prior to January 10, 2022. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's left knee flexion is rated at 10% and extension is non-compensable. The Veteran was granted a 20% rating for left knee instability, but the issue of an initial compensable rating for left knee extension remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for left wrist, right wrist, left knee, right knee, and neck disabilities as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including patellofemoral pain syndrome with partial meniscectomy, lateral release, subchondroplasty, and chondromalacia, is currently rated at 20 percent prior to September 2, 2020, and denied for greater evaluations. A separate rating of 10 percent has been granted for right knee instability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, dermatitis, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis. Service connection was denied for vertigo, acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety, depression, and PTSD), and dermatitis.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 25, 2007, and no earlier for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment as of that date.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left femur/knee disability and for TDIU prior to January 29, 2021 has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are no longer pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings related to her right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a new examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for costochondritis and left knee disability were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that his conditions warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea, assess the severity of his PTSD and left knee tendonitis, and provide opinions regarding service connection.