Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's knee conditions, specifically painful motion and limitations of flexion and extension, are granted at a 10% disability rating prior to November 25, 2019. The ratings for instability and medial instability in both knees remain unchanged.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development.,An effective date prior to December 17, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's initial and increased rating claims for right and left knee arthroscopic surgeries (progression of stress fractures, tibia) have been denied as the current ratings do not accurately reflect the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for temporary total ratings due to surgeries on her left and right knees in 2016 were denied as the claims were filed more than one year after the surgeries, which is not covered by the time period on appeal.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right shoulder disorder, right knee disorder, and chest disorder. The TDIU claim related to left knee disabilities is granted as of January 9, 2019.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, as they may be aggravated by his service-connected back disability. The case is sent back to the AOJ for an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's knees were aggravated beyond their natural progression by his back condition.

The Board has restored the 40 percent rating for left knee degenerative joint disease, effective September 1, 2018.

Service connection for a chronic lumbar spine disability, left shoulder disability, and tinnitus has been granted.,Service connection for hypertension, headache disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and acquired psychiatric disorder has not been established.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and remanded the rating decisions for DDD of the lumbar spine, as well as the propriety of separate ratings for radiculopathy.

The Board has reinstated the 30% disability rating for left knee post-operative degenerative joint disease with limitation of flexion and restored the 10% disability rating for left knee status-post ACL graft, lateral meniscectomy, and partial meniscectomy with instability effective November 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorders due to inadequate nexus opinions provided by a VA examiner. The Veteran reported falling while carrying heavy gear during enemy attacks in Vietnam, which may be related to his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim for a TDIU due to unclear evidence regarding the appellant's capacity to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, specifically related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, as secondary to service-connected conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain etiological opinions that substantially comply with the November 2022 remand directives.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee and hammer toe with degenerative arthritis of the right first MTP joint due to incomplete records, need for additional examinations, and potential Reserve records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a lumbar spine disability due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, and Right Knee Disability is granted. The cases are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine the etiology of these conditions.

The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection decision was made.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and left ear hearing loss disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including limitation of flexion and extension, dislocated semilunar cartilage prior to July 16, 2018, and removal of semilunar cartilage effective from that date, is rated at a 30 percent evaluation.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from September 5, 2015 to July 18, 2022 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.