Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee joint instability and limitation of flexion are remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations, as well as a determination on whether he is entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) because the Veteran's single service-connected left knee disability, rated at 30% and later 40%, does not meet the criteria for TDIU under schedular or extraschedular standards. The appeal is based on his inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical degenerative arthritis, left hip strain, bilateral knee strains, and bilateral elbow strains. The conditions are considered to have started during service and continued thereafter.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including PTSD and tinnitus, need further development due to a lack of an informal DRO telephone conference. The Veteran is requested to schedule an informal DRO hearing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the ratings for right knee limitation of motion and right knee instability prior to May 21, 2021, as well as the denial of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's right knee injury, finding an approximate balance of evidence in favor of this claim.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by arthritis with instability and limited motion, has been granted a separate rating of 20 percent for the limitation of extension. The appeal is denied for increased ratings for flexion and meniscus issues.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to May 2, 2019 was denied as the evidence did not show that he could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee conditions, finding that these conditions began during his military service and have continued symptomology.

The Board has granted service connection for both the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is sufficient evidence to resolve reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran. The disabilities are considered direct service connections.

The Veteran's left knee strain is characterized by symptoms commensurate with a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5260, but no higher. The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for the left knee strain is denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and etiology opinions provided prior to the rating decision on appeal were inadequate, as they did not adequately address all the claims and theories of entitlement reasonably raised by the evidence of record. The issues are therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions due to inadequate VA opinions. The Veteran's lay statements and medical records indicate he experienced daily pain to both knees since their onset, but the VA examiners did not specifically address his bilateral knee condition or consider the plausibility of in-service injuries based on his duties as a parachutist.

The Board has remanded both the TDIU and increased rating claims for right leg amputation due to inextricability, and for referral of the TDIU claim to VA's Chief Benefits Director or the Director of Compensation Service.

The Veteran's left knee condition was previously rated at 10 percent and increased to 20 percent in October 2019. The VA has now restored the 20 percent rating effective June 1, 2022.

The Veteran's cervical, left knee, and right knee strains are granted service connection. The claims for bilateral 5th digit numbness and tension headaches related to these conditions are remanded due to inadequate opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current nature and severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right ankle, left ankle, right hip, and right knee disabilities based on continuity of symptomatology since active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back pain, skin conditions, knee issues, and hypertension, were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service injury or aggravation.,Specifically, the Board determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of dermatitis or eczema, and his claimed back condition, right knee conditions, left knee conditions, hypertension, lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and lumbar radiculopathy of the right lower extremity were not caused by service.