Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for his patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative arthritis or instability, and denied TDIU prior to September 2, 2016.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings, increased evaluations, and a compensable evaluation for his left knee surgical scar are dismissed as the Veteran withdrew these issues by opting-in to the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 (AMA) system.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU related to his bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded due to procedural issues. The AOJ must issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) and review the issues on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for cervical spine arthritis, left knee limitation of flexion, and left knee limitation of extension have been dismissed. The appeal for service connection for a right knee disability has also been dismissed.,Service connection for GERD is granted as the Veteran's current diagnosis aligns with her reported onset in service. Service connection for lower back disability is granted based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct or secondary service connection. The medical opinions provided are against the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's request to restore a 10 percent rating for hemorrhoids with hematochezia effective August 2, 2018 is granted. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for major depressive disorder and right knee strain are dismissed.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations regarding her service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome and left foot pes planus.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current right knee disorder that had onset in or within one year of discharge from service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active duty service. The case is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding insomnia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability was denied. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent disabling from December 4, 2019, and granted total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development regarding the Veteran's ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities, particularly ischemic heart disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disabilities and shell fragment wounds have worsened since their last VA examination in October 2017. The case is being remanded to schedule new examinations for assessing the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities as secondary to his service-connected neck spondylosis with arthritis and low back degenerative arthritis, respectively.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations of his service-connected bilateral knee conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran is seeking increased evaluations for his degenerative joint disease, left knee with meniscal tear and instability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by limitation of flexion and instability, has been restored to a 30 percent rating effective January 1, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened. The appeal of the rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee instability is dismissed. The claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and depression or TBI, are remanded.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development regarding treatment records from June 2016 to July 2022, specifically whether they are located in 'VistA Imaging' or 'Vista Imaging Display'. The AOJ is instructed to clarify this and obtain any associated VA or private treatment records.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability and has remanded his claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

Service connection is granted for a right foot disorder, chronic sinusitis and rhinitis, and left knee disorders. Service connection is denied for a left foot disorder and right knee disorders.,The Veteran's right foot disorder is related to his service-connected right ankle disability. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left foot disorder or a current diagnosis of a left knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for current VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral knee and left ankle disabilities.