Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded four issues for further development: PTSD with major depression, bipolar disorder, left knee condition, and kidney condition. The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need to verify in-service stressors, clarify whether he has a current diagnosis of bipolar disorder, obtain VA treatment records, and provide an opinion on the relationship between his service and these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as low back and neck disabilities. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination for the claimed low back disability and neck disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for knee conditions have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right hip, right knee, and left knee disorders due to inadequate medical opinions that do not address relevant evidence of prior symptoms. The claims are also remanded to consider a September 2018 private medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected left knee disability, as well as for obtaining updated medical records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, increased rating for right knee disability, separate rating for right knee limitation extension, and left foot disability have been denied. The Board found no current evidence of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent for limitation of extension, and separate ratings are granted for instability (10%) and partial meniscectomy residuals (10%). The appeal is remanded for further development regarding service connection for a right low back disorder and hypertension.,Service connection for the Veteran's right low back disorder and hypertension remains pending as they are to be considered secondary or aggravated by existing service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to insufficient opinions from VA examiners regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder and renal mass.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or on account of being housebound is denied. The Board found that he does not meet the criteria for SMC at either the aid and attendance rate or the housebound rate.

The Board denied service connection for unspecified anxiety disorder (claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder), hypertension, gout, right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, sleep apnea, lower back DJD, neck disorder with pain and numbness down the hands, and COPD. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that the current VA examinations conducted in May 2018 do not adequately reflect the severity of his disabilities and remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of his right knee, left knee, and back disabilities to include DJD are granted. The claim for temporary total evaluation (TTE) based on surgery for the service-connected right knee requiring convalescence is also remanded.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is considered secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.,The Veteran's right foot Charcot foot disability is also considered secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to service connection and increased ratings for various conditions. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of Reserve service dates and types, obtaining complete medical records, and providing opinions on secondary service connection.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The appeal is remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation during the period from December 1, 2015 to July 26, 2018. Therefore, entitlement to TDIU for this period is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable rating criteria, with a separate rating for painful extension.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellar tendonitis should be remanded due to additional evidence being added to the record.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with anxious distress and generalized anxiety disorder is granted a 70 percent evaluation, effective from the date of this decision.