Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since September 1, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are as likely as not of such nature and severity as to prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from March 1, 2011, until February 23, 2020, and a TDIU granted from February 24, 2020, onward.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion, with no higher ratings granted due to the lack of more than moderate instability or flexion limitations.,The current ratings for right and left knee disabilities are appropriate given the evidence showing limited range of motion but not reaching 30 degrees in either knee.

The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis is rated at 10 percent, and the limitation of extension is noncompensable.,The Veteran's right and left knees both have limited motion from 5 to 95 degrees, with no higher ratings possible based on arthritis or limitation of extension.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of a left knee disability. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), chloracne, and guttate psoriasis are remanded. Additionally, the issue of TDIU is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral-knee and bilateral-foot disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for further review, as the Board cannot grant a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to June 2, 2014. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for low back and left knee scars have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the prior remand directives and requires a new VA examination to address the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee and right hip conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings based on the current manifestations of his conditions.

The Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities from October 15, 2009 to July 11, 2011.

The Veteran's spouse is not found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to her disabilities, as she can manage most daily activities with assistance.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted with a separate 10 percent rating effective April 25, 2013.,A higher rating for degenerative arthritis of the left knee remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the criteria for higher ratings under various knee diagnostic codes have not been met.,No effective date has been assigned due to lack of a specific claim or change in rating.

The Board denied benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for postoperative residuals of right total knee replacement surgery, post staph infection, to include back and hip disabilities with right leg shortening due to lack of informed consent.

The Board has granted secondary service connection for the Veteran's left knee meniscus and tendinopathy, finding that these conditions are proximately due to his service-connected right leg disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck disability, anxiety disorder, and right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions and outdated records. The Veteran will need new VA examinations and updated medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, lower back, and left foot disabilities due to their secondary nature to a service-connected right ankle disability. The remand requires an addendum opinion addressing whether these disabilities are proximately due or have undergone any incremental increase in disability due to the service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and tinnitus have been reopened. The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening the claims, but the cases are still pending as they need to be remanded for further development.