Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal and pulmonary conditions, including conducting new VA examinations to evaluate the severity of his lumbar spine strain, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, right knee chondromalacia patella, right ankle strain (status-post surgery), and pulmonary sarcoidosis.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is not related to his military service due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service. His right shoulder disability was also not related to service as there is no evidence of in-service injury or treatment. For the right knee disability, the Board found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosed condition.,reasoning

The Veteran's application for a clothing allowance based on the use of a prosthetic device for 2013 is being remanded due to incomplete records and need for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial disability ratings and TDIU prior to March 25, 2013 is being remanded due to inadequate retrospective medical opinions regarding the right knee functional loss during a flare-up or after repeated use over time.

The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to December 15, 2014 due to the Veteran's service-connected right knee instability. The Veteran had been gainfully employed since January 1, 2001.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his right and left shoulder disabilities, right and left ankle disabilities, right and left knee disabilities, and pain disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's initial evaluation for coronary artery disease with pacemaker implant was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to October 12, 2019. From October 12, 2019, to the present, his evaluation remains at 60 percent.,The Veteran's initial evaluation for residuals of right knee replacement associated with arthritis was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to May 1, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of PTSD, left knee degenerative arthritis, and asthma for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to conflicting findings between various VA examinations, private evaluations, and treatment records. The claims are being returned for further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete development. The Veteran's hypertension is rated at 10 percent, and no higher rating is warranted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected disabilities were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a rating greater than 30 percent.,Specifically, the VA examinations and medical records indicated that none of the Veteran’s conditions met or approximated the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee degenerative arthritis is denied, and his claims of service connection for a back disorder and sleep apnea are denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain missing service treatment records and determine if any periods of active duty for training or inactive duty training were performed by the Veteran from October 2003 to September 2010. The VA will also schedule a right knee examination and provide a neck conditions addendum.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bronchitis and pharyngitis, as well as right knee and hand/wrist disabilities. The claims are now remanded for further development.

Service connection for a neck disability and bilateral shoulder disabilities is granted.,A rating of 10% for the right knee disability is denied. A rating greater than 20% for the left knee disability prior to December 12, 2019 is also denied. However, since December 12, 2019, a rating of 40% for the left knee disability is granted.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, atrial fibrillation, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hand disability.,The claims were remanded for additional development in March 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases due to non-compliance with prior remand directives and inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee and left shoulder disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records are needed for the remaining claims, and a new VA medical opinion is required to address whether preexisting scoliosis was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee strains due to insufficient evidence in previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left knee disabilities, as well as her claim for service connection for complex regional pain syndrome due to new evidence added since the last decision.