Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sleep disorder and increased disability ratings for bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete development.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability, but remanded the issues regarding a higher evaluation for the right knee and service connection for Crohn's disease.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, gastrointestinal disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was previously denied in June 2009. The decision is now reopened due to new and material evidence, but the right knee disability claims remain pending.

The Veteran's TDIU claim prior to June 24, 2010 is being remanded for the VA Director of Compensation Service to consider if an extraschedular rating should be assigned.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and psychosis, has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for further evidence.

The Veteran's skin disability of the feet, including onychomycosis and ingrown toenails, is related to service.,While the Veteran has reported pain and numbness in his left great toe since service, there is no current diagnosis of a left great toe disability. The Board finds that the Veteran’s testimony regarding this condition does not amount to a current disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for migraine headaches, back disability, and right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to September 28, 2017.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for limitation of extension of the left knee and for a rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion of the left knee, excluding the period from July 2019 to October 2019. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records and authorize VA to obtain any outstanding records related to his March 2020 left knee replacement surgery.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his right knee disability impacts physical employment but he can engage in sedentary work with breaks.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, COPD, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, arthritis of the knees, and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to additional development needs.,Service connection is not granted for any of these conditions as there is no evidence linking them to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the scar is rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that a higher rating for either condition is not warranted.,The Veteran’s left knee scar does not meet the criteria for a separate compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to consider whether a temporary total rating for convalescence beyond October 31, 2016, for the residuals of right knee surgery should be granted and if so, whether TDIU should also be granted. Additional development is needed as there are records from an infectious disease specialist that have not been obtained.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU due to insufficient evidence or lack of compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's initial rating for ischemic heart disease is granted at a 10 percent level. The Veteran's TBI with migraine headaches is also granted, but only at the noncompensable (zero percent) level. Other service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current right knee and right ankle disabilities and his military service, as well as their relation to a service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including evaluations for lumbar spine and right thumb conditions, a compensable evaluation for a right thumb disability, and service connection for gluten intolerance and bilateral knee disabilities. The remand requires additional examinations and opinions regarding these issues.

The Veteran's combined disability rating has been at least 80 percent since February 23, 2007. Despite having multiple part-time and full-time jobs with substantial earnings from April 2017 to July 2019 as a security guard, the Board found that he was employable throughout his appeal period.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of compliance with VA examination requirements for assessing the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee conditions.