Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various hip and knee conditions, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder, all secondary to the Veteran's right ankle disability. The claims are now pending further examination and evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder condition, bilateral hip conditions, and ischemic heart disease due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claims are not granted as there is no competent medical evidence linking his current disabilities to his active duty service.

The Board has ordered the case remanded due to issues related to the Veteran's vocational rehabilitation and employment services, including his current limitations from service-connected disabilities and feasibility of changing his career goal.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations did not fully address the Veteran's claims for service connection, and thus the case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 20% prior to July 22, 2015 and reduced to 0% effective July 22, 2015. The claim for a higher rating remains before the Board.,The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 20% prior to November 1, 2016 and reduced to 10% effective November 1, 2016. The claim for a higher rating remains before the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to insufficient medical evidence in the record, particularly regarding the relationship between his current right knee disability and his active service, including multiple parachute jumps during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior Board remand orders, including the need for a new functional capacity evaluation by a vocational rehabilitation counselor.

The Board has remanded the cases for obtaining additional medical records to assess the severity of the Veteran's knee replacements.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and the need for a new opinion on secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the service connection of right ankle, left ankle, right knee, left knee, and right shoulder disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including his total left knee arthoplasty, is rated at 60 percent from July 1, 2012 to May 16, 2019. The claim for a higher rating beyond this period is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 40 percent for fibromyalgia is denied. The appeals for service connection for deviated septum, hand arthritis, foot arthritis, right knee disorder, rib pain, positive ANA, thyroid disorder, and gum surgery are dismissed. The appeal for a higher initial rating for painful scars, right breast, is also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and conflicting evidence regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right and left hand disabilities, psychiatric disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability. The claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for additional action.

The Board denied service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, finding that there was no evidence linking the current condition to an in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and additional medical records. The issues of service connection for onychomycosis, bilateral pes planus, left hip labral tear with limitation of flexion, left hip labral tear with limitation of extension, pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), folliculitis decalvans, and scarring alopecia, scalp scar, bilateral plantar fasciitis, hypertension, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), and left knee PFPS are all remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain and bilateral plantar fasciitis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of whether he meets the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, cervical spine, lumbar spine, left hip, right hip, left knee, right knee, left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot disabilities as well as a heart disability.,The Board also denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is related to her service-connected thoracic degenerative changes with lumbar strain. The VA examiner must consider the Veteran's lay reports of ongoing pain and provide a reasoned medical explanation.