Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee DJD with lateral instability and a TDIU claim due to deficiencies in the July 2021 VA examination, internal inconsistencies in the report, and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess the severity of his disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability. The claims were reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has decided that there is insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders are related to service, and therefore remands the case for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various shoulder, knee, and cervical spine disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection for chronic sinusitis is also being remanded.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including a total knee arthroplasty and meniscal cartilage issues, is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board denied an increased rating for the TKA residuals as of March 1, 2020, but granted separate ratings for the meniscus disability.

Service connection for right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and obstructive sleep apnea degenerative joint disease is denied.,The Veteran's service records do not show any in-service events, injuries, or diseases that could have led to these conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically right and left patellofemoral pain syndrome with symptomatic chondromalacia of the patella and synovitis, have been rated at 20% for the right knee and 10% for the left knee. The Board denied higher ratings as his range of motion is not sufficient to warrant a higher rating under applicable codes.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his representative, and as a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional development due to new VA medical records added after the August 2019 statement of the case. The Veteran and his representative will have an opportunity to respond with a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and an evaluation in excess of 20 percent disabling for his left knee condition, finding no causal relationship to active service or secondary to his service-connected left knee condition.,The Board also denied the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent disabling for his left total knee replacement from October 1, 2018 forward.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for PFB was denied as the evidence did not show that his condition affected at least 5% of his entire body or exposed areas, nor did he take intermittent systemic or topical therapy.,Both knee issues were remanded due to lack of examination during a flare-up or repetitive use.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed to determine the appropriate rating and whether his current disabilities are related to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board denied service connection for back, left knee, right knee, and left ankle disorders as the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis and PFS status post meniscectomy, sinusitis, GERD, and onychomycosis were all granted increased disability ratings. The highest rating available for the knee disabilities is 30 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability and PTSD have rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment since December 3, 2020. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's eczema (a skin disability) is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's limitation of flexion of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent, which is also the maximum rating available under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee disability and instability was denied. The Board found that the current evaluations met the criteria under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease with chondrocalcinosis and left ankle degenerative joint disease with calcaneal spur, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service injuries.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, left knee disability, and right shoulder disability due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during or were caused by his military service.,No new rating was assigned as the decision is solely on the issue of service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient examination reports and failure to provide a retrospective medical opinion on range of motion and functional loss.