Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, right knee condition, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his physical limitations. The Board has granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee strain due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for an addendum opinion addressing aggravation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence or clarification. The current rating of 10 percent for right hip strain, thigh impairment is maintained. For left knee disability with painful limited flexion, a higher rating is denied. A separate 20 percent rating for patellar instability is granted effective February 26, 2021. Service connection for Morton's neuroma in both feet and TDIU are also remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including strain and arthritis, is currently rated at 10 percent. The rating for instability remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded several issues for further evaluation, including service connection claims and evaluations for various knee disabilities. The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are among the issues being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and granted, with an effective date of January 11, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee condition are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a right knee disability should be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ is required to request medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his reported in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disorder and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since November 4, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examination and duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining nexus opinions and additional medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain and bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, status post total knee replacement. The conditions are considered to be related to the Veteran's active-duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of her degenerative joint disease in both knees have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew her claims for right and left foot hallux valgus.,Her appeals for increased evaluations of her degenerative joint disease in her left and right knees were denied because her knee disabilities do not meet or approximate the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain and left ankle strain were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 10 percent for either condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and low back disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee conditions and bilateral ankle conditions, finding that these conditions are causally related to the Veteran's in-service events, injuries, or diseases.

The Board has remanded five service connection claims for a left knee condition, vertigo, lung condition, right hand condition, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records from Cooper Hospital.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar back strain, cervical spine disability, bilateral pes planus, left ankle and knee disabilities, tinnitus, and hearing loss are rated accordingly. The effective date for the grant of service connection is denied prior to December 29, 2015. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) claims have also been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development of evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition. The VA will need to obtain any outstanding private and VA treatment records, as well as schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The appeal as to the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, neck condition, lumbar spine condition, LLE radiculopathy, RLE radiculopathy, left shoulder condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition is dismissed.