Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities have not met the criteria for a higher disability rating under the current VA rating schedule. The Board has remanded these issues to allow for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, which includes strain, tendonitis, and an ACL tear post-reconstruction. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service injury during basic training.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be afforded new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, major depressive disorder, right knee disorders, and left knee disorders due to insufficient opinions in the previous examination reports. The claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disability, prostate disability, left arm disability (hand carpal tunnel), right arm disability (hand carpal tunnel), left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, low back disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development to determine the current severity of his left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, bilateral hearing loss, and back disorder. The issues include seeking a higher rating for left knee disability, an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, and service connection for a back disorder secondary to left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, head injury residuals, and a right knee disability have been reopened. The Board has decided to remand these issues due to the need for additional VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings related to his right knee, left knee and left knee scar are being remanded due to the need for further evidence regarding the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's right ulnar nerve disorder, left lower extremity nerve disorder (PLMD), and right lower extremity nerve disorder (PLMD) have been granted service connection. The Veteran's left knee/leg disability is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's left shoulder condition is granted service connection. The issue of secondary service connection for the left knee condition to a service-connected left ankle disability is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder disorder, diabetes mellitus, type II, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, and back disorder must be remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional medical opinions to address whether the Veteran's left knee strain and left hip replacement with residual pain are related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including referral to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extraschedular TDIU consideration. The effective date for TDIU remains at November 27, 2009.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left wrist and left knee disorders due to insufficient rationale in the VA opinions provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and bilateral knee conditions are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature of his claimed conditions and their relationship to service, including exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia. Updated treatment records should be obtained.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn his appeal in its entirety.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable prior to August 12, 2021. The Board found insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that the Veteran is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate range of motion testing in a previous VA examination. A new examination is required.

The Veteran's lower back condition is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,A rating of 20 percent for left knee instability from April 18, 2017 to December 10, 2018 has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including low back disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, ankle disabilities, and right shoulder disability. The appeals are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for updated examinations.