Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with concussion, irritable bowel syndrome, left shoulder strain, lumbar spondylosis, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and right knee strain, have prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment since November 26, 2008. The Board has granted TDIU effective as of that date.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee limited flexion and for TDIU prior to July 13, 2010 due to non-compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development. The Veteran's hearing loss claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss. Other claims are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection and TDIU. The Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disorder, knee disorder, hypertension, and headaches are still pending. The claim for TDIU is being considered under extraschedular criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and development of evidence related to the Veteran's employability given his service-connected disabilities. The claim will be reconsidered after additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for clarification regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disorders and right hip disorder impact her ability to dress, attend to personal hygiene needs, or require assistance in protecting herself from hazards.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and a history of meniscectomy, is rated at 10 percent prior to August 19, 2022. A separate rating for symptomatic residuals from the meniscectomy was granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities and psychiatric disorder. The claims will be reconsidered with additional opinions.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and instability are rated at 30 percent from April 23, 2015 to December 28, 2015. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for right knee instability prior to December 28, 2015. The TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connection due to the PACT Act, which provides a presumption of exposure and subsequent disability.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted based on presumptive service connection under the PACT Act. The Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his active duty in Guam.,The Veteran's sinusitis is granted as service connection due to the PACT Act, which provides a presumption of exposure and subsequent disability.,Service connection for a skin disorder (claimed as arthritis of the left knee) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions and missing separation examination records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder, including sleep apnea, and for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis. The issues have been remanded due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and degenerative arthritis of the bilateral knees and hips, but has remanded these issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for left knee, left shoulder, and back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, including associated scars, were denied. The Board found that the criteria for higher ratings under the old and new rating criteria did not meet the requirements.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his left knee condition prior to October 9, 2019 is denied. His claim for a 60 percent disability rating for the residuals of his total left knee replacement beginning December 1, 2020 is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right and left knee disabilities are not related to his service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.

The Veteran's shin splints and knee strains have been rated at the lowest possible level (10%) due to their limited functional impairment, with no evidence of more severe conditions such as moderate or greater knee disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and neck disability, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and right eye disability have been reopened, while the claim for an increased rating for right foot pes planus has been remanded. The Board also found that new evidence supports reopening of these claims.