Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current condition. The case is being sent back for an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted for bilateral ankle, knee, and OSA disabilities. Service connection has also been granted for left ear hearing loss but denied for right ear hearing loss.,Remaining issues of service connection are remanded for further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between her current knee disabilities and her military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis and cervical spondylosis were not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and there has been no continuity of symptomatology since active service or within a year of separation from active service. The Board finds that the persuasive weight of the evidence shows these disabilities were not incurred in service.,The Veteran's right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis were also not shown as chronic in service, did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, and there has been no continuity of symptomatology since active service or within a year of separation from active service. The Board finds that the persuasive weight of the evidence shows these disabilities were not incurred in service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection regarding his right knee, left knee, lower back, and neck conditions must be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions and records. The VA will need to secure complete service records, verify the Veteran's duty status during relevant periods, and provide examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities were denied in January 2009. The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right lateral epicondylitis is remanded, as her current symptoms have worsened since the last examination.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is rated at 30 percent, but no higher, for residuals of partial right knee replacement beginning February 28, 2019. The left knee disorder remains rated at 20 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability warrants a rating higher than 10 percent and has remanded the case for further development.

The Veteran's pes planus was granted a 50% rating prior to September 22, 2015. The Board found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and granted TDIU.

Your appeals for service connection of left and right knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to proceed with these claims as they are now closed.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development, including VA examinations. The Veteran's right knee condition and scar are rated more than 10 percent but need further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disorder, left tibia stress fracture, lumbar spine disorder, and bilateral foot disorder due to failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The Veteran is advised that he must report for any scheduled examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence and further evaluation is needed.

The Veteran's tension headaches are granted as incurred during service. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied, and the claim for an earlier effective date for left ear hearing loss is also denied. TDIU is granted with conditions met. Effective dates for other claims are not granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and headache disability have been granted. The claim for hypertension has been denied.,Service connection for the Veteran's headache disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and TBI.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, including diabetes and its complications. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and granted a noncompensable rating for scars associated with left knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as PTSD, have been denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's low back disability rating is also remanded due to insufficient information regarding its severity.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including arthritis and meniscal tear, is rated at 20% for the period from November 16, 2017 to June 27, 2018. The rating remains denied for higher ratings due to limitations in motion and instability.