Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's previously denied claim for a right knee disability is reopened, and service connection is granted.,Service connection is also granted for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain, tension headaches, right knee strain, and cervical strain are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also established for rhinitis and left wrist sprain. Groin rash was denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, but has remanded them for additional VA examination with opinion to consider the medical literature provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The claims for left knee, right knee, low back, scar from hernia surgery, and heart conditions are still pending and will be remanded for further development.,New evidence received since the last final denial supports reopening the claims for tinnitus, but additional information is needed to determine if any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated during periods of ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA service.

The Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities have been reopened based on new evidence.,Service connection for these conditions is now granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including the total replacement of the joint, is now rated at 60 percent effective May 18, 2023.

The Board has found that the VA's remand directive to obtain SSA records for the Veteran has not been completed. As such, another remand is necessary.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU for the period from June 21, 2007 to July 31, 2018 due to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for a TDIU from July 31, 2018 is dismissed as moot because he is now in receipt of a 100% combined disability rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee disorders, migraines, and upper extremity scars are related to service. However, due to inadequate VA examinations, the Board is remanding these claims for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for further development of evidence. Specifically, his right knee TKR rating is being returned for additional consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, hip, and lumbar spine disabilities due to a duty-to-assist error in not obtaining certain private treatment records. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for VA to obtain these records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for sleep apnea and right knee disorders before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), finding that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis in the lumbar spine and bilateral knee replacements. The effective date for this decision is not specified.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not clearly interfere with his normal employability during the period between January 31, 1972 and September 16, 1981. Therefore, he is denied a 10 percent disability rating for this period.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased evaluation of PTSD with symptoms of anxiety, depression, and anger is denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for COPD pursuant to the PACT Act.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the increased rating claims for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, right knee, and status post meniscotomy scars, left knee.

PTSD service connection is granted, with the Veteran's in-service sexual assault stressors considered.,Loss of strength in left hand and pain with use are not service-connected due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a 10% rating, effective from the date of the decision. The limitation of extension remains at noncompensable.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a right knee condition and obstructive sleep apnea before the Board could make a decision.

Service connection for a left leg condition, including as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability, is denied.,Service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the service-connected tinnitus is granted.