Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, RLE radiculopathy, and LLE radiculopathy as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and vacated the remand decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for cataracts, left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability due to inadequate rationale in previous VA opinions. Additional development is needed including obtaining STRs and other medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for edema, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate VA examinations conducted in March 2024. The AOJ is required to obtain copies of non-VA medical records from VistA Imaging system and provide an addendum medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right hip, left knee, and left foot disorders due to inadequate medical opinions under a theory of secondary service connection.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from December 24, 2016. Prior to that date, he was working and did not meet the criteria for TDIU as he was not unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for a Right Knee condition as secondary to the service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Veteran's left knee instability is currently rated at 10 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating from January 26, 2022.

The Veteran's left and right foot plantar callosities have been granted initial 20 percent ratings, while the higher rating claims for both feet are denied.,Service connection has been established for bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for his service-connected right knee disability and entitlement to TDIU due to additional development being necessary. This includes obtaining an opinion regarding the presence of dislocated semilunar cartilage, shin splints, and instability in the context of the applicable rating periods.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities and service-connected allergic rhinitis due to insufficient compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his claimed knee disabilities, which he alleges began during active duty and were caused by wear and tear over a 20-year period. He also contends that his allergic rhinitis worsened since previous examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for regular aid and attendance, but do not meet the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The left knee scar and ankle disability are denied, with no compensable rating assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and the need to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his lumbosacral spine DJD, left lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve, and right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve was denied. A 20 percent rating is granted for the right lower extremity radiculopathy involving the sciatic nerve.

The Veteran's traumatic arthritis in both knees is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities, including a paralyzed nerve, bilateral eye disability, genital warts, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left shoulder disability. The evidence does not support the Veteran's claims of in-service injury or disease resulting in these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he is currently enrolled in college and has attempted to re-enter the workforce. The Board finds that his unemployability is due to his mental health conditions rather than his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis does not meet the criteria for service connection. The left hip disability claim is remanded for further development.