Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety. The left ear hearing loss claim is denied, and the right foot, left foot, right knee, and TDIU issues are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not that his current condition had its onset during active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for right knee disability and has determined that a reasonable doubt exists regarding whether the current condition is related to service. The decision grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues are being remanded because additional evidence is needed, including VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his bilateral knee conditions, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and sinus condition. The Board will consider these findings in determining a final decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as moot due to the assignment of a 100% combined schedular rating for all service-connected disabilities since December 26, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right and left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right and left knee disabilities. The evidence did not show these conditions were present in service or within one year of separation.,The Board also found that the Veteran's current psoriatic arthritis, psychiatric disorders, liver disability, and circulatory disorder are not related to his service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee DJD, bilateral hand condition (limited use), and allergies have been granted. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's left knee condition is currently rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257, which pertains to residuals of a total knee replacement. The Board has determined that the appropriate rating for his disability should be assigned under Diagnostic Code 5055, reflecting intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain or limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right and left elbow disabilities, thoracic and lumbar spine disabilities, right knee disability (other than Osgood-Schlatter's disease), left knee disability (other than Osgood-Schlatter's disease), and compensation under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 for an undiagnosed illness or medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness.

The Veteran's patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee is granted a 30 percent disability rating, effective March 15, 2021.,For the period prior to January 2, 2020, the Veteran's limitation of flexion of the left knee is granted a 10 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spine spondylolisthesis with degenerative disc disease, left knee strain, and right knee strain, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment as of June 19, 2010. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between his current condition and military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for right and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome due to issues with the adequacy of the VA examination report.

The Board has remanded the claim for a bilateral knee disability due to additional evidence being submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of left and right knee conditions has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for knee disabilities and TDIU due to new evidence indicating worsening of his left and right knee conditions. A new VA examination is required, and the TDIU claim must be developed further.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues with the examination and duty to assist, and will need to provide a new opinion on whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings of 10 percent each. The low back disability has also been granted an increased rating to 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining National Guard records and SSA disability benefits application records.