Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine arthritis, cervical spine arthritis, right knee strain, and left knee strain due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee is rated at 40 percent, and his right knee instability is rated at 10 percent. The Board denied both claims for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous instructions, specifically failing to schedule and conduct a VA examination as requested in January 2020.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 60 percent disabling from October 8, 2019. The case is being remanded to obtain additional clinical information and review the Veteran’s medical records.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, with a separate rating for painful extension. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right foot metatarsalgia, a right knee condition, and a left knee condition due to lack of adequate medical opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, joint disorder, and neurological disorder due to new evidence and further examination.

The Veteran's right shoulder strain with impingement is granted a rating of 20 percent from December 11, 2012. Other service-connected conditions are denied increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of various orthopedic conditions, including low back, bilateral hip, knee, and shoulder issues. The Veteran was also granted Social Security disability benefits in 2012.

The Board has determined that the current record does not contain an adequate nexus opinion or sufficient evidence to determine whether the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability. The Veteran's bilateral knee claims are remanded for further development, including a new VA examination and additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee replacement, finding that it was caused by his service-connected left leg fracture. The decision resolves doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee arthritis, bilateral elbow disability, and right shoulder disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service injuries and continuous symptoms since service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for moderate lateral instability, effective October 17, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for extraschedular evaluations for bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete response from the RO.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease with degenerative joint disease and intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine was granted. The appeal is granted in part, as the Veteran's left knee patellar tendonitis with limitation of flexion and osteoarthritis and right knee patellar tendonitis with limitation of flexion and osteoarthritis are both remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including asking the Veteran to provide additional information about his work at a store and any other attempts he made to find employment between January 2011 and January 5, 2017. The AOJ should consider whether this is an appropriate case for referral to the Director for consideration of a possible extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to missing STRs. The claim for service connection for DM2 is also being remanded as it requires additional development regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during active duty.,For the right knee and left knee disorders, the Board found that there was no in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions, and thus denied service connection. The claim for DM2 remains pending due to the need for further evidence on herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence or conflicting diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, characterized by limited range of motion and instability, has been granted separate initial ratings for flexion, extension, and lateral instability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability, evaluated as 20 percent disabling for patellofemoral pain syndrome and 10 percent disabling for instability, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the current manifestations of the service-connected conditions.