Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected right and left lower extremity disabilities have resulted in permanent loss of use of both feet, qualifying him for financial assistance to purchase an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Board has determined that there is a need to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee meniscal tear, as the July 2021 VA medical opinion in favor of the claim was not considered due to regulatory constraints. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral flat feet, low back disability, right knee disability, and tinnitus. Service connection was denied for a right hip disability.

The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the regulatory requirements.,Service connection for migraine headaches was denied due to lack of in-service disease or injury and failure to establish a causal relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right thumb, knee instability, and knee degenerative arthritis disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion regarding functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral pes planus, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for postoperative internal derangement, left knee, with DJD and instability has been denied. The claim for a compensable rating for limited extension of the left knee has also been denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee instability is being remanded due to inconsistencies in the most recent VA examination report. The case will be returned to the examiner to clarify whether the Veteran has current instability of the right knee and its extent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back disability and right knee disability due to inadequate VA examinations in previous decisions. The Veteran is required to undergo new VA examinations to assess his current functional impairment during flare-ups, with weight-bearing and without weight-bearing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right shoulder disorder, and skin disorder due to a lack of relevant service treatment records. The Veteran testified that his injuries occurred during service while carrying a casket.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence received after the June 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for a left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a retrospective addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment starting September 1, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn.,The Board has determined that the Veteran should be provided with VA examinations to assess his current disabilities, including residuals of right orbital floor fracture, left elbow disability, right ankle disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate range of motion testing in prior examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to non-compliance with previous remand orders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria and he was gainfully employed throughout the relevant period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left leg numbness due to insufficient evidence from a previous examination. The Veteran is still in receipt of a 20 percent rating for his left knee impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected diverticulitis, left knee osteoarthritis (status post ACL repair), and incisional hernia have been granted initial ratings of 10 percent each. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for higher ratings at any time during the period under review.