Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that his current condition is not related to active service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by painful motion and arthritis, was found to warrant a 10 percent rating. The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent from January 28, 2016 is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, Meniere's disease, diabetes, tendonitis of the right wrist, mild osteoarthritis of the left knee, and mild osteoarthritis of the right knee, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to November 6, 2015. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the remaining issues. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical evidence, including treatment records from private providers, and to schedule examinations for the appellant's right knee disability, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathies of the feet, left elbow disability, and TDIU.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of a right knee condition and granted it. The appeal is dismissed for the issue of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's back disability, rhinitis, and other conditions. The VA will attempt to obtain relevant private treatment records from WHC and Dr. S., as well as any outstanding VA treatment records. A new VA examination will be scheduled for these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for her left knee disability are being remanded due to procedural issues. The claim for a bilateral ankle disability is also pending, requiring the issuance of an SOC.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 30 percent since July 1, 2016 and increased to 60 percent from September 27, 2019. The extension of a temporary total rating for the left knee surgery beyond June 30, 2016 is denied.,The Veteran's heart condition has been rated at 30 percent since July 1, 2016 and there is no evidence to warrant an increase in this rating.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at the maximum allowable under VA guidelines, and he is granted a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including scheduling him for VA examinations to address his service connection and rating issues.

The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to April 19, 2016 for the grants of service connection for right and left shoulder strains and for right and left knee strains have been denied. The Board found that no claims were received prior to April 19, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of bilateral pes planus and right knee osteoarthritis (secondary to left knee degenerative arthritis) is reopened, but the Board did not make a final determination on these claims.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee instability from April 11, 2005 is granted at a 20 percent disability rating. The case is remanded for further review of the lumbar spine disability and TDIU issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee degenerative joint disease have been remanded due to the need for further evaluation. The lumbar spine disability claim is also pending.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating from October 30, 2017. Other service connection claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal for the service connection claims related to bilateral knee disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, hemorrhoids, and eye/vision disorders. The Board dismissed these issues as a result.

The Board has granted the petition to reopen claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities. However, both issues are remanded due to insufficient nexus opinions in the prior VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and missing non-VA treatment records. The Veteran's right knee disability, including Osgood-Schlatter disease, meniscal tear, and arthritis, is being reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. An initial 70 percent rating for PTSD is also granted.

The Board denied a rating in excess of the current ratings for the Veteran's lumbar strain with degenerative joint disease and left knee strain, status post fracture, left fibula.