Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer are rated at a 20 percent rating effective February 28, 2023. The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis post TKR is rated at 30 percent and remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, low back disability, and tinnitus.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disability and lumbar spine disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis, based on a private medical opinion that supports an altered gait and posture theory.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, back, and shoulder disorders. The wrist and right knee disorder claims are remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and a left knee condition were previously denied in an August 2010 rating decision. The Board dismissed the appeal as no new rating decision was issued on or after February 19, 2019, to which the Veteran could have appealed.

The Board has found that the Veteran's tinnitus is related to his active-duty service. The left knee condition issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and elbow disabilities, as well as bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. The AOJ is required to obtain VA medical opinions regarding the severity of the left knee disability and the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral Dupuytren's Contracture.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining the Veteran's STRs. A VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's knee disorders are related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions as the appeal was not timely filed and concurrent elections are prohibited.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis is granted. The Board also granted a non-compensable initial rating for GERD and a 30 percent rating, but no higher, for allergic rhinitis since November 12, 2019.

The Veteran's right hip disability is rated at 90 percent effective October 6, 2009. The left knee and left knee instability are each rated at 20 percent effective October 6, 2009. TDIU and SMC benefits are granted effective October 6, 2009.

The Board has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date and increased ratings for right knee and hip disabilities due to new evidence being submitted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's back, right ankle, and right knee disorders. The conditions are found to be related to his active duty service.

The Board has dismissed all the claims related to various disabilities, including psychiatric disorders, hypothyroidism, neck disability, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left shoulder brachial plexus neuropraxia, and right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various elbow and knee disabilities, as well as a cervical spine disability, due to lack of compliance with remand directives. The issues are now pending before the AOJ.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is granted as service connected. The issue of service connection for psychiatric disability (including PTSD) and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities remains remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to need regular aid and assistance on a daily basis, leading to the grant of SMC A&A effective April 27, 2012.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding VA's care during and after the Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty, specifically concerning the delay in diagnosing and treating his post-surgery infection. The claims for service connection for back pain, right leg pain, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and left knee disorders due to a lack of medical opinion on the Veteran's new theory of direct service connection. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service or if they were caused by his service-connected sleep apnea.