Knee Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and higher initial ratings for a left shoulder/arm disability, PTSD with depression, and spondylosis of the cervical spine. The appeal for service connection for a left knee disability was denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a left foot injury. The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left elbow scar is granted, but he remains denied for right thumb/hand scars and right axillary scar.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a left foot disability is granted. His claim for a compensable initial rating for allergic rhinitis remains denied, and the issues of service connection for right knee disability, back disability, and respiratory disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of plantar warts, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The remaining claims are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of various conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete service records and the need for additional examinations. The Veteran's lung condition, low back disability, status post left below knee amputation, and status post bowel resection are all in question.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include pseudofolliculitis barbae, right eye condition, and left knee condition.

The RO has restored the Veteran's 40% disability rating for service-connected lumbar degenerative joint disease with lumbar disc herniation, effective May 1, 2020. The issues of increased ratings and earlier effective dates remain pending.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right ankle and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records from orthopedists who have treated him. The TDIU claim is also being remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to service connection for various conditions, including left knee and hip disabilities and congestive heart failure.

The Board has granted increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities, but has also remanded two issues related to his right and left knee recurrent subluxation.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated based on limitation of motion. A 10 percent rating is granted for limitation of extension in the right and left knees from specific dates, with a 30 percent rating granted for limitation of flexion in the left knee during those periods. The ratings for instability in both knees remain at 20 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his lumbar spine disability and anxiety disorder, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and back disabilities, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral foot disability.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and low back disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, ankle, knee, hip, elbow, shoulder, and low back disabilities. The appeal is being remanded due to inadequate or incomplete previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left ankle, right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, left knee, cervical spine, and chest pain. The remand requires additional medical opinions addressing whether these conditions were aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, and other specified trauma and stress related disorders.

The Veteran's right and left knee arthritis were rated at the maximum available rating of 10 percent, with no evidence of additional limitation or disability warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, bilateral leg disability (peripheral neuropathy), bilateral foot disability, shoulder disabilities, elbow disability, knee disability, and hand/finger disability have all been denied. The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence to support the conclusion that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bilateral knee disorders, and an increased rating for depression due to incomplete information in her claims file.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnoses of degenerative joint disease in each knee and his military service.