Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded several claims due to non-compliance with previous directives and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further clarification on service connection for a chronic right knee, including whether it is related to service-connected left knee condition or obesity. The examiner will provide opinions regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the combined effect of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities on his employment, specifically as a production worker in an automotive vehicle engine plant from February 2006 to February 2017.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is rated at 20% effective November 18, 2019. The claim for GERD service connection is denied. The claims for lumbar spine and left knee DJD are remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various disabilities as they are all related to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability prior to December 5, 2016, and for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 5, 2016, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome due to inadequate VA examinations conducted in August 2012 and December 2016. The Veteran is required to be afforded a new VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on functional loss due to pain or other factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hip and left knee disabilities due to a lack of complete service treatment records, including those from his National Guard service. The Veteran reported jumping out of planes during this period.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a rating of 30 percent effective July 15, 2014. The Veteran's left knee degenerative changes are granted a rating of 30 percent effective July 15, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient medical examination records, including lack of information regarding functional loss during flare-ups or after repetitive use over time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, lumbar spine, and bilateral shin splint disorders due to incomplete medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional treatment records and provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent effective from June 19, 2019. Service connection for a right hip disability and left hip disability is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for low back and bilateral knee conditions due to insufficient medical opinions and missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records.

The Veteran's right knee condition prior to August 6, 2015, did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent due to limited functional impairment and no evidence of instability or subluxation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to October 19, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for PFB. The right knee disability is also granted as secondary to left knee patellofemoral syndrome and osteoarthritis. Other claims are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional evidentiary development due to a lack of a VA examination and insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are related to her military service, but further evaluation is needed.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to November 2, 2018 did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.