Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examination opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee and bilateral foot disabilities.

The case is being remanded due to insufficient examination in the previous rating decision, specifically regarding retrospective estimate opinions about limitation of motion at the time of the 2013 and 2015 VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further action due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to her service, specifically during her ACDUTRA period from March 8, 2009, to March 14, 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are preventing him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds a remand is required to obtain updated information about his most recent employment and to request an opinion regarding the combined effects of his service-connected conditions on his employability.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings for left and right knee Osgood-Schlatter’s disease were denied, with the Board finding that his disability picture did not warrant a higher or separate rating based on limitation of motion. The claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD was remanded due to lack of cooperation from the Veteran during the previous examination.,The Veteran's PTSD with mood disorder is currently rated at 50 percent under Diagnostic Code 9411, and the Board finds that a higher or separate rating is warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's initial and increased ratings for left knee disability, right knee disability, right foot Achilles tendonitis, and left heel Achilles tendonitis have been granted. The Veteran is also awarded a TDIU effective December 1, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders due to insufficient consideration of in-service complaints and treatment, as well as a lack of consideration of VA outpatient records. The case is now pending for further development.

The Board dismissed the appeals for left knee disability, anxiety disorder, and hemorrhoids as they are no longer relevant due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further evaluation. The appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for higher staged ratings for status post left knee total replacement, finding that the evidence did not reach a level of equipoise as to whether such higher ratings were warranted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and an initial rating higher than 20 percent for his lumbosacral strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right knee disorders, as well as his claim for service connection for sleep apnea due to additional VA-developed medical evidence not having been addressed in a Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left arm disability, right arm disability, right knee disability, and bilateral foot tinea pedis due to new evidence of increased severity since his last VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disorders.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability had its onset during active service and resolving all reasonable doubt in his favor.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral hip disability due to insufficient etiology opinions provided by the VA examiner.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the current severity of the Veteran's left knee sprain, specifically related to flare-ups and functional limitations. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee DJD were denied as the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or less at any time during the appeal period.,Both knees are currently rated at 10 percent under DC 5260, which covers limitation of flexion.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a right knee condition, depression with suicidal tendencies, and drug addiction/dependency due to new evidence indicating potential causation or foreseeability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right ankle and bilateral knee osteoarthritis, did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board denied the TDIU claim as the evidence does not support that any of the service-connected disabilities alone or in combination prevented him from obtaining employment.