Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to December 14, 2017 were not severe enough to prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck, back, left hip, and right knee disabilities due to his failure to report for VA examinations scheduled on remand.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a right ankle, left ankle, right knee, or left knee disability that was incurred in service. The Board also found no evidence of hypertension manifesting within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including effusion and instability, is rated at a 20% since March 2, 2012. The appeal for higher ratings or TDIU prior to April 2018 has been denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), to include as secondary to degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic joint pain, except for his right knee and ankle issues. The decision also granted direct service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine (claimed as chronic joint pain) and secondary service connection for right ankle and left knee pain due to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability and left knee disability, as well as her request for a 70% rating for PTSD. The appeal for TDIU prior to September 17, 2019 was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination to evaluate the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee medial meniscus tear, postoperative.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, as the VA examinations did not fully comply with the requirements set forth by Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, heart condition, and audiological condition due to insufficient evidence. The claim for service connection for pyloric ulcer channel ulcer and malnutrition (previously claimed as stomach condition) is reopened based on new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU effective from March 12, 2009.

The Veteran's left knee disability claims are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from MacDill Air Force Base and adjudicating a claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip condition, painful motion associated with left knee condition (now diagnosed as arthritis), and limitation of motion associated with left knee condition (now diagnosed as arthritis) have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis have also been dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection for chronic lumbosacral strain, right knee disability, and left knee disability have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for chronic lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and he is not unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been granted, but the specific conditions and issues are not fully specified in the provided text.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for his low back disorder, finding that the evidence does not support such an increase. The case is now remanded to obtain additional VA examination reports and determine if higher staged ratings are warranted.,The right knee disorder remains under appeal with the need for a new VA examination compliant with Sharp v. Shulkin (2017) guidelines, as the Veteran reported flare-ups that require further assessment of functional loss during such periods. The case is also remanded to determine if higher staged ratings are warranted.,The TDIU claim remains inextricably intertwined with the right knee disorder appeal and thus must be addressed together. The case is therefore remanded for a new VA examination related to the right knee disorder, as well as for further adjudication of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's left knee total knee replacement is now rated at 60 percent effective September 1, 2016.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for chronic pain syndrome is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for bipolar disorder, hypertension, and tinnitus are remanded due to incomplete records. The Veteran’s OSA is also remanded for further examination and opinion regarding its relationship with his service-connected left knee disability and any non-service-connected psychiatric disability.,The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral wrist disabilities (left and right) is remanded as the VA examinations did not fully comply with the requirements of Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since July 10, 2003. An earlier effective date of July 10, 2003 is granted for the total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).