Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, specifically his service connection claim. The VA will attempt to obtain in-patient hospital records from Fort Lee, Virginia and copies of VA treatment records from November 2020 to present. A new VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disability was incurred during military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities and right hip disability based on limitation of motion, as well as his claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to April 5, 2014.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that it is not caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of the bilateral knees and right ankle are being remanded due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives regarding the period prior to December 2018 in regard to the Veteran’s functional limitations during periods of flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU, but his case is referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration as to whether he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted a 20% rating, and his anxiety disorder from May 23, 2016 is granted a 50% rating. The Veteran's request for a higher rating for the anxiety disorder after that date is denied, as well as his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for IBS, headaches, sinusitis, salmonella residuals, left knee pain, hernia, bilateral arm numbness, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), asthma, and liver cysts are all granted. The Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA service must be confirmed and identified.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee patellofemoral syndromes were evaluated at a 10 percent rating each, which was denied as the conditions did not warrant an increase to higher ratings.

The Veteran's left knee sprain and meniscal tear have been rated at 10 percent since May 2014, but the appeal for an increased rating remains pending.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU prior to April 7, 2017 due to his service-connected right shoulder and left leg/knee disabilities which rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right knee disabilities and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the service connection appeals for additional development to obtain opinions regarding the Veteran's diagnosed conditions and their relationship to his in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for Lyme disease residuals, low back arthritis, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and left shoulder arthritis. The decision also includes a request for additional examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records, specifically from Lawrenceville CBOC and Atlanta VAMC. The Veteran's claim of a rating in excess of 20 percent for chondromalacia of the left knee with degenerative joint disease will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee, right knee, lumbar spine, and left hip conditions due to insufficient medical opinions in the July 2019 decision. The Veteran must provide additional medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left ear hearing loss, left knee strain, and right knee strain have all been denied. The evidence does not support the assignment of any higher evaluations.

The Board dismissed the appeals because the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his right knee conditions did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's arthritis and skin cancer are not related to his military service, but new medical opinions are needed to address these claims.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a separate 10 percent rating, effective September 1, 2011.