Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals are remanded due to insufficient evidence for several conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, sciatic nerve disabilities, knee disabilities, and shoulder injury. The VA is directed to provide additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's service connection for a left wrist TFCC tear is granted. The rating of 20 percent, but no higher, for benign prostatic hypertrophy with urge incontinence (BPH) is also granted.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed regarding toxic exposure risk activities for the Veteran's knee disabilities and lower extremity radiculopathy. The RO is instructed to obtain these opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip and right knee disabilities, as secondary to her service-connected residuals of a right leg vein thrombosis. The VA examiners did not address aggravation or provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right hip disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities. A rating of 70 percent was granted for major depressive disorder from June 1, 2019 to May 13, 2020.

The Board has determined that a new examination is necessary to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee arthritis, including during flare-ups and repetitive use.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and depression), migraines secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea secondary to migraine disorder. The Veteran's hearing loss is not rated higher than 0%.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his left knee disability due to a lack of current diagnosis and functional impairment.

The Veteran's hypertension and tinnitus were granted initial ratings, while the overactive bladder condition was granted a maximum schedular rating. Service connection for stomach condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, back condition, high cholesterol, low vitamin D, and left knee condition were denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected chronic pain conditions. The issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability other than MDD, bilateral metatarsalgia, right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, mechanical low back pain with degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is currently rated at 70 percent disabling, effective November 23, 2016. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted prior to this date.,The Veteran's status post compression fracture T-12 and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's cervical degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's left hip strain affecting limitation of extension is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's left hip strain affecting limitation of flexion is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a compensable rating is warranted.,The Veteran's stricture of the esophagus is currently rated as noncompensable. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if a compensable rating is warranted.,The Veteran seeks service connection for right hip disability, which may be secondary to his left hip disabilities. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if this condition is related to his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran seeks service connection for sleep apnea, which may be secondary to his service-connected conditions. The Board finds that additional examination and/or evidence are needed to determine if this condition is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee instability, impaired flexion, and impaired extension are granted at specific ratings. A rating higher than 60 percent for residuals of a total right knee replacement is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hyperlipidemia is dismissed. The claims for service connection for a right knee disability, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD, alcohol abuse, PTSD) are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities.,Further clarification is needed regarding the relationship between the Veteran's antalgic gait and her service-connected ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions and missing VA records. The issues include service connection for Crohn's disease, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression), a right knee disorder, a left knee disorder, and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as residuals of a torn right knee meniscus and left knee degenerative arthritis. The claim was reopened due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with its previous remand instructions and potential issues related to the Veteran's homelessness.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lower back, neck, left knee, tinnitus, and sleep-related disabilities due to non-compliance with prior remand directives.

The Veteran's dental condition, claimed as extracted teeth, is denied due to lack of evidence showing a current disability for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection for the right shoulder disability is denied because there is no direct service connection and the Veteran's current disability is less likely related to his in-service injury. The examiner noted that the current shoulder disability is more likely related to time and age rather than the in-service injury.,The Veteran's right arm disability is not supported by evidence of a current disability for VA compensation purposes.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded as there is no direct service connection established.,Service connection for a kidney disability, claimed as a 'hump' on the kidney, is remanded due to lack of evidence supporting its relationship with in-service events or diseases.,Service connection for polycythemia is remanded because it has not been shown to be related to an already service-connected condition (hemorrhoids and hiatal hernia) or a pre-existing condition aggravated by the service-connected conditions.,An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee DJD with limitation of flexion from November 29, 2018 is remanded due to lack of evidence supporting an increased disability level.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee DJD with limitation of flexion prior to November 29, 2018 is remanded due to lack of evidence supporting an increased disability level.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee DJD with lateral instability prior to November 29, 2018 is remanded due to lack of evidence supporting an increased disability level.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee DJD is remanded due to lack of evidence supporting an increased disability level.,An initial rating in excess of 30 percent for hiatal hernia with GERD prior to November 29, 2011 is remanded due to lack of evidence supporting an increased disability level.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for hiatal hernia with GERD from November 29, 2011 to February 4, 2020 is remanded due to lack of evidence supporting an increased disability level.,An initial rating in excess of 60 percent for hiatal hernia with GERD since February 4, 2020 is remanded due to lack of evidence supporting an increased disability level.,Total disability rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service connected disability (TDIU) is remanded as there is no direct service connection established.

The Board has remanded the claims of PTSD, lumbar spine arthritis, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right foot disorder due to incomplete development as a result of the inability to verify the Veteran's current address. The Veteran was provided updated contact information but did not attend the VA examinations.