Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee replacements and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise that his service-connected conditions prevent him from obtaining and maintaining such employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the psychiatric conditions. The Veteran's service connection claims for left knee degenerative arthritis and an acquired psychiatric disorder are also being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psoriatic arthritis is related to his service-connected psoriasis and grants service connection for all claimed conditions on a secondary basis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding a left knee disability. A new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current left knee condition is related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left knee strain and right knee strain and patellofemoral malalignment have been dismissed due to the Veteran requesting a withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to a TDIU claim, as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a TDIU. The VA will need to consider whether his disabilities preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including cervical spine degenerative joint disease, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, right ankle sprain, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined service-connected disability rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further development of his dates of active service.,An effective date earlier than July 1, 2015 is not warranted as the increase in PTSD symptoms was factually ascertainable within one year from the submission of the Veteran's intent to file a claim.

The Board denied service connection for left knee strain, back disability, right and left ankle strains/sprains, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, MDD, anxiety) due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between the current conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various hip, knee, ankle, and back disabilities due to incomplete compliance with previous remand orders. The case must be returned for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a 20 percent rating for limitation of flexion from October 2, 2020, to April 25, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for a cervical spine disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Veteran's current conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea. There is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after the Veteran's separation from service.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis resulted in pain on manipulation and use of the feet from January 28, 2011 to June 23, 2018. The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right hip and knee disabilities due to inadequate examination results. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the disability rating claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy, left hip and knee disabilities, degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, and prostate hypertrophy due to additional development being necessary. Specifically, the AOJ must obtain all outstanding medical records from University Medical Associates.

The Veteran's initial ratings for service-connected internal derangement of the right and left knees, as well as lumbar spine strain, have been denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been dismissed due to the grant of service connection in a previous rating decision. The remaining issues are denied or remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability was proximately caused by his participation in a CWT program. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right knee disorder, respiratory disorder (bronchitis), dyslipidemia, warts, and right ankle disorder have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for degenerative disc disease with degenerative spondylosis of the lumbar spine has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee with dystrophic calcification of the inferior patella, right knee instability and residuals of a healed right tibia/fibula fracture due to inadequate VA examinations in denying the claims.