Knee Board decisions

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including obtaining outstanding records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's service-connected conditions of sinusitis, major depressive disorder, chondromalacia patella, right knee, and chronic lumbosacral strain/sprain are still under review.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to recent surgeries and incomplete medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, disability of the spine (including lumbar and cervical spines), residuals of pneumonia, and chronic joint pain associated with pneumonia.,There is no evidence linking any of these conditions to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee and leg disability. The cervical spondylosis claim is also being remanded due to an inadequate medical opinion in the February 2020 VA examination report.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for additional development. The Veteran's left knee disability is being reviewed again, with a focus on its relationship to service-connected back disability and inservice MOS.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease has not been manifested by limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, and the Board finds that his disability does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disability and right knee disability have been granted. The issues of service connection for right ankle disability and left ankle disability are being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected left leg disability has been rated at 30% for limitation of flexion, but the extension remains limited to zero degrees and does not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, but no higher. The Veteran's lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome is rated at 40 percent from January 30, 2020 and denied for prior to that date. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20 percent. The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds that these ratings do not meet or more closely approximate the criteria for a higher rating based on current evidence of record.

The Veteran's neck condition is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to functional loss during flare-ups or after repetitive use over time.,For his right knee condition, the Veteran was previously denied a separate rating for meniscal disabilities. The Board now remands this issue for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an ulcer disability is being remanded due to new and material evidence. Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for right elbow and knee disabilities are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease and right knee osteoarthritis were granted. The claims for hypertension and diabetes were denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the Veteran's service connection claims due to conflicting information regarding his periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination findings and a need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since April 30, 2004. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective from that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that the conditions warranted a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The back disability was rated at 20 percent, the right knee disability at 10 percent, and the left shoulder disability at 20 percent from December 2, 2018. Headaches were not rated as compensable prior to January 31, 2020, but a rating of 30 percent was granted thereafter. TDIU was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disability, and pes planus due to incomplete information and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee condition, bilateral ankle condition, and left shoulder condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing their relationship to service.