Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 6, 2017, for service connection of left knee instability and scar are denied. The reduction of disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent for left knee disability is remanded. Other issues related to the left knee disabilities are also remanded.

The Board has decided that the claims for increased rating for hearing loss and service connection for bilateral knee injury need to be reviewed by the AOJ with consideration of all relevant evidence, including recent medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for a collarbone disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence in the record. The AOJ is directed to obtain additional VA treatment records since September 2020 and secure addendum opinions from a VA examiner regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased rating for migraine headaches and service connection for bilateral knee pain due to insufficient evidence in the record, including lack of adequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence and additional development being required. The issues include various conditions such as knee pain, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, a sleep disorder, and neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss has been reopened, and the earlier effective date claim for right knee patellofemoral syndrome is being remanded.,The Veteran's request for an increased rating for his right knee patellofemoral syndrome is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a headache disability is dismissed. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU based on the service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and tinnitus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's left knee disability is still under review, with an increased rating being requested.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back, wrist, knee, ankle and elbow disorders due to insufficient medical opinions. The inflammatory arthritis claim is also remanded as it involves potential exposure in Southwest Asia.

The Board has vacated its May 2023 decision due to the Veteran's death before it was issued, and the appeal will be re-docketed with a substituted Appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU effective February 13, 2006.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and increased ratings, finding that the earliest date of reinstatement was January 31, 2012, which is not applicable to his August 29, 2018 claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to military service or secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis with painful flexion and limited extension, as well as his right knee instability, was partially granted. The Veteran received an increased 30 percent rating for the condition from January 25, 2023, but his claims for increased ratings in excess of 10 percent for painful flexion and prior to that date were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination results and requests for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including tendonitis/tendonosis post reconstruction of the left knee and instability, was granted a 10 percent rating from May 10, 2016 to August 8, 2016. A separate 20 percent rating for meniscal dislocation with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain, and effusion into the joint is also granted. The Veteran's left knee surgical scar received a non-compensable rating.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to verify the appellant's reported stressors related to his PTSD and to obtain his complete service treatment records. The claims for right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities are also remanded as VA examinations are required.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not adequately addressing the Veteran's reports of left knee instability. Further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's disability can produce instability.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee chondromalacia patella is denied as the evidence does not show that his disability warrants a higher evaluation.