Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the cases for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to concerns about the competency of a VA examiner and the need for additional development regarding the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for service-connected lumbar disc bulge and right knee degenerative arthritis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the extent of functional impairment during flare-ups.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder. The Veteran's current diagnosis of right knee pain is based on VA treatment records from December 2014, which were not previously part of the actual record before the AOJ at the time of the April 2011 rating decision and provides new information that addresses whether the Veteran had a pre-existing condition or if his current condition is related to service. The Board has also determined that remand is necessary for an addendum opinion regarding bilateral hearing loss, as well as for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and remand have been addressed. The hearing loss claim is denied, the right foot disability claim has been granted with a 10% rating, and both knee issues are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations for his service-connected left ankle and left knee disabilities have been denied. The current ratings of 10 percent are considered appropriate based on the limited range of motion demonstrated.

The Veteran's initial rating for the psychiatric disorder is denied, and a higher rating of 70% is also denied. For the increased rating period on appeal from January 11, 2018, a 20% disability rating for right knee meniscus tear and ACL repair is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine has been granted. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left hand, right hand, and knee conditions have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of records related to the Veteran's left knee disability, including a waiver provided upon entry into service and any related medical records. The RO is instructed to attempt to locate these records and obtain a supplemental VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 10 percent rating for left knee instability from October 16, 2018 to February 7, 2021 is granted. The claims for evaluations in excess of 10 percent for left knee instability and arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder are denied as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Service connection for sinusitis is also denied.

The Veteran's service connection for a left eye condition has been denied.,The Veteran's initial ratings for right knee limitation of extension and instability have been remanded for further review.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being in equipoise.,Other issues related to hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, hip and knee disabilities, foot disabilities, seizure disorder, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, eye disability, and hepatitis are remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for a back condition, bilateral knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep disturbances.

The Board has ordered remand for further development due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for various knee, hip, back, and sciatic nerve disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic conjunctivitis, rhinitis, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will be provided with a new VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions and missing VA treatment records. The issues include increased ratings for knee conditions, service connection for ankle, hand, foot, and cardiac conditions.

The Veteran's appeal of the ratings assigned for his lumbar spine, left and right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left and right knee osteoarthritis has been dismissed as the award of a TDIU effective March 2, 2012 satisfies the Veteran's appeals.