Knee Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeal of issues related to service connection for gastritis, a rating in excess of 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), and a compensable rating for facial scars associated with PFB. The issue regarding the character of discharge for the period from March 1977 to March 1979 was resolved in favor of the Veteran, but the appeal is dismissed as there are no remaining issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including back disorder, bilateral knee disorders, radiculopathy of upper and lower extremities, skin disorder, and jaw disorder. The appeal is being returned to obtain additional VA treatment records and to provide a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the October 2019 remand directives and thus, further remand is required. The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities need to be reassessed due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases of tinnitus and right knee disability for further development, including obtaining in-service clinical records from Elmendorf Hospital and providing VA opinions on their etiology.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis and subsequent total knee replacement are rated at 10 percent prior to February 27, 2017. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations that comply with prior remand directives.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee traumatic arthritis with limited motion. The case is remanded to determine if TDIU should be granted prior to July 28, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners regarding the Veteran's statements of continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and vertigo, finding that there was no causal link between his current conditions and his military service. The Board also found that the July 2016 and January 2020 VA opinions were adequate in assessing the relationship between the Veteran's knee disorders and back strain.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's lay contentions of symptoms since service.

The Board has denied a higher rating for right knee degenerative joint disease and remanded the claim for migraine headaches due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand instructions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient consideration of his lay statements and medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee condition is proximately due or the result of his service-connected left knee condition, and if it was aggravated by that condition.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include psychiatric disabilities, right hip disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck, bilateral elbow, bilateral wrist, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, and bilateral foot disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to meet McLendon v. Nicholson criteria.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional opinions.

The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the Board found that they do not warrant higher ratings based on limitation of motion.,For his left shoulder disability, the Veteran was initially awarded a 10 percent rating in March 2007 and later increased to 20 percent in August 2020. The Board concluded that he does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis based on both limitation of flexion and limitation of extension, and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis and degenerative joint disease with chondromalacia of the left knee were denied. The maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic codes was granted.