Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and thus, the case is being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU prior to April 4, 2018 due to service-connected disabilities that rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 30 percent for patella dislocation from October 1, 2009 to May 31, 2017. The rating was reduced to 0 percent effective June 1, 2017, but restored to 30 percent as of May 1, 2020. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings were denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's left knee disability. The right knee disability issue is also being remanded for a new medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, left shoulder disability, and right hip disability are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claim for hypertension is also being remanded as it may be related to herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of skin cancer are also being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee chondromalacia first manifested during service and is not due to a pre-existing condition. Therefore, service connection for this disability is granted.

The Veteran's left ankle degenerative joint disease is now rated at 20 percent, effective January 9, 2012. Her left knee degenerative joint disease remains rated at 20 percent since September 23, 2019.

The Board has remanded the cases due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder is not found to be secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine and/or knee disabilities. The Board also denied the claim for TDIU prior to July 31, 2010.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as his right and left shoulder conditions, have been granted. Service connection has also been established for the lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment as of February 29, 2020. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether his service-connected disabilities alone are of sufficient severity to produce unemployability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and her lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent. Both conditions are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a service connection for neck condition, to include as secondary to service-connected right shoulder disability. Further development is required.

The Board granted a separate rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis, based on meniscus tear, effective October 9, 2019. The Veteran previously had a 10 percent rating for limitation of motion.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for right knee and right foot disabilities, finding new and material evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.,Service connection is being remanded for both right knee and right foot disabilities due to the need for further development.

The Veteran withdrew all of the issues on appeal, including those related to service connection for various disabilities. The Board has no further jurisdiction in these matters.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, right thumb disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, and right wrist disorder are all granted service connection.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's right shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, right thumb disorder, bilateral elbow disorder, and right wrist disorder. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for her service-connected temporomandibular joint syndrome was denied.,The application to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, left knee strain, and left hip bursitis due to insufficient examination reports and failure to address functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability, but denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of motion of the right knee.