Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board has remanded the claims for right knee injury, left knee condition (including cellulitis), and sleep apnea due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Veteran's right knee instability, degenerative change arthritis with meniscal tear, and pseudofolliculitis barbae have been granted increased ratings. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions, including hyperlipidemia and tinnitus. Service connection was granted for a right knee disability but denied for chalazion, blepharitis, and myopia disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to new evidence received since the April 2020 Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted a 20% rating, and his left shoulder condition is denied any increase in rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee conditions due to inadequate medical opinions and incomplete compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his condition, as he has reported worsening over time and age-related issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient examination findings. The examiner is asked to provide opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions, including considering obesity as an intermediate step between any service-connected disabilities and the Veteran's current conditions.

The Veteran's dysthymia is rated at 70 percent, but not total disability.,His lumbar spine degenerative disease with IVDS (ranging from 50 to 100 percent) and right lower extremity radiculopathy are both granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee replacement after June 1, 2018 is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for post-operative residuals of a service-connected torn medial meniscus with degenerative arthritis prior to April 11, 2017 is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's right elbow, left knee, and low back disorders.

The Veteran's pes planus was granted service connection. The Board has ordered remand for further development regarding other bilateral lower extremity disabilities and the relationship between these conditions and his service-connected rheumatoid arthritis and pes planus.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for right-knee disorder, left-knee disorder, cervical-spine disorder, thoracic-spine disorder, and lumbar-spine disorder. The gastrointestinal disorder claim remains denied as there is no evidence supporting its service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing chronicity in service or continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.

The application to reopen the claim of service connection for a back disorder is granted. The claims for left knee, hip, leg, and ankle disorders are remanded due to lack of proper VA examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was insufficient evidence to show he could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service treatment records are missing and have not been obtained. The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA examinations to determine if the claimed conditions were caused by military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbar spine disability, right ankle disability, deviated septum, diverticulosis, and respiratory/breathing disability. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to delays in scheduling VA examinations and failure to report to scheduled appointments. The appeals are related, so TDIU is also being deferred.