Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to January 18, 2016.

The Veteran's claim of a higher initial rating for his right knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the inadequacy of previous VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and gambling disorder, are sufficient to render him unemployable without regard to his age or any nonservice-connected disorders. The Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claim for plantar fasciitis is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of plantar fasciitis related to his military service, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability after July 1, 2014. The issue of entitlement to extraschedular TDIU prior to May 16, 2014 is remanded due to lack of compliance with previous Board remand directives.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a lumbar spine disability prior to October 10, 2018, are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in rating beyond 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions and lack of diagnostic tests for left knee arthritis. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left knee injury with chondromalacia was denied. A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability was granted, and the case is remanded for further development regarding TDIU prior to September 23, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left thumb fracture remains pending. The VA examiner will assess the severity of this disability and determine if additional functional loss due to flare-ups can be quantified in terms of degrees of motion lost during such episodes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including residuals of a right hand injury, bilateral heel disabilities, chronic acquired eye disability (including glaucoma), and degenerative joint disease of the left knee were all denied. The Board found that there was insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's petition to reopen her claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was granted. The Board also remanded the claims for chin numbness, TMJ, residuals of a dying tooth, and residuals of dental surgery due to insufficient evidence.

The claim to reopen the service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claims to reopen for bilateral knee disability and sleep apnea are denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is established, but not for bilateral knee or sleep apnea. An increased rating of 40 percent for a back disability is granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including headache disorder, sleep apnea, acquired psychiatric disorder, abdominal aortic aneurysm, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and left shoulder disorder. The decision also found that pre-existing allergies were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee degenerative changes and instability have been denied by the Board, as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee DJD, finding the Veteran's condition manifested by pain and limited range of motion.,The Board remanded the issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected gout due to insufficient evidence regarding its severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disorder and hypertension due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examinations. The issues include flat feet, neuropathy of the lower extremities, knee disabilities, neck disability, and back disability.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for various foot, knee, and leg conditions prior to April 5, 2016 due to a favorable resolution of the issue in May 2020.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for DJD of the left knee is being remanded due to inadequate compliance with previous Board directives and need for additional medical opinions.