Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's claims are not fully addressed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new examination and etiological opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee condition, which is claimed as secondary to his service-connected back and left knee conditions.

The Veteran's full-time employment from August 31, 2011, to September 9, 2012, and from November 21, 2012 to July 2, 2014, indicates the Veteran was not precluded from engaging in substantially gainful employment for these time periods.,The Veteran's employment status during the period of September 10, 2012, to November 20, 2012 and from July 3, 2014 to January 13, 2015 is unclear based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of chronic sinusitis and right wrist disability. The Board found new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

Service connection for fatigue has been withdrawn.,Service connection for left knee arthritis, eczema, and right shoulder disorder have been granted. Service connection for left shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and sleeping disorder (insomnia) have not been established.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee total replacement, effective October 1, 2017. The decision is based on chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion and weakness.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and requests that updated treatment records be associated with the claims file, a VA knee examination be scheduled, and then the claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition be readjudicated.

The Veteran's sleep apnea and migraine headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his right shoulder condition, major depressive disorder, obesity (related to OSA), and hypertension. The Veteran is granted service connection for these conditions.,The Veteran's left knee disability and right knee disability have not been linked to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current right knee disorders are related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with previous Board directives regarding his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities. The VA needs to schedule the Veteran for additional examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion and instability. The claim for an increased rating has been granted, but the Veteran does not meet criteria for a higher rating based on more severe limitations or symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for musculoskeletal disabilities of the right leg and right arm due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives. The issues have been recharacterized as all diagnosed musculoskeletal disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a bilateral foot disability and left knee disability, as secondary to service-connected low back degenerative arthritis. The claims will be reviewed with additional medical opinions regarding the onset of these conditions in service or their relationship to his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations, and now requests additional private medical opinions.

The Veteran's left knee instability is now rated at 20 percent, effective June 21, 2016. The PTSD rating remains unchanged at 50 percent since February 27, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a lack of clarification on the scope of the Veteran's claim and failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has determined that more development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his thoracolumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as his service connection claims for lower extremity disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee condition and bilateral hearing loss. The examiner must provide an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran’s current conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee conditions prevented him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment prior to February 3, 2009. The Board granted entitlement to an extraschedular (ES) total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for this period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional information and evidence, as well as to schedule VA examinations. The effective date of the award of service connection is denied.