Knee decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee conditions and his in-service duties. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination, and it is recommended that the Veteran be rescheduled for an examination.

The Veteran's initial schedular rating for left knee painful limitation of motion is granted at a 10 percent level prior to his total knee replacement.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including her major depressive disorder and bilateral knee disabilities, render her unable to secure or maintain substantial gainful employment. The Board grants the TDIU rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a right knee disorder due to issues related to scheduling a hearing and obtaining medical examination. The issue remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is currently in remand status due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar scoliosis, depression, left thumb disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, gastritis, GERD, and hiatal hernia. The decision is granted as new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20% since March 3, 2015. The left knee disability remains at 10%. Both conditions are considered service-connected on the merits.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claim for service connection of tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability and instability have been rated at 30 percent for the entirety of the appeal period.,The Veteran meets the requirements for a 30 percent disability rating for his left knee instability.

Service connection granted for right knee disability and left ear hearing loss. Skin disorder claim not addressed due to lack of herbicide exposure evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a current right knee disability and its relationship to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left eye disability, lumbar spine disability, and left knee disability have been denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and bilateral ankle disabilities. Service connection is also granted for right hip degenerative changes and post traumatic changes. The appeal is denied for the right hip disability.

The Board granted increased disability ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, but denied TDIU prior to June 28, 2006. The decision also found that the earliest date a claim for TDIU was reasonably raised by the record is June 17, 2002.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle, left knee, and low back disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to October 19, 2005.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for right knee disability and granted it. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.,The evidence received since the June 2004 decision supports reopening the Veteran's claim, but does not provide sufficient evidence to grant a higher rating for his right knee disability or bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 40% rating effective December 14, 2015. The other issues were not addressed as they are no longer before the Board.