Knee Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection for various conditions, including migraine headaches, lumbar spine disorder, right knee strain disorder, hemorrhoids, and traumatic brain injury.

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder. The issues of service connection for left and right knee disorders are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The claims of service connection for a back disorder, migraine headaches, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, and right knee disorder are granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cervical spine condition and a left knee condition, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or incident that caused these conditions.,Both conditions were diagnosed post-service, with the cervical spine issue first noted in 2009 and the left knee issue in 2000. The Board found that the Veteran's current conditions are less likely than not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for an examination and etiological opinion. The appeal will be considered on its merits after obtaining updated medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to verify his service in the Ohio Air National Guard and determine if any periods of deployment were federal service. The claims for service connection will be reconsidered after this verification.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner for the negative nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability. The case is now being sent back for further examination and opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's high cholesterol is not a disability for which service connection can be granted. The remaining issues have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied, and the case is remanded due to the need for updated VA examination. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded as his employment history needs clarification.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss prior to October 20, 2022 and for bilateral hearing loss thereafter. For knee disabilities, the Veteran was granted a noncompensable rating for left knee instability after October 25, 2022 and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability. The low back disability claim was also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for further evaluation due to insufficient medical opinions regarding range of motion loss prior to specific dates. The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are still under review.

The Board has remanded several claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and verifying the Veteran's current address.

The Veteran's appeal for asthma has been dismissed. The claim of service connection for a bilateral foot disability is reopened, but the claims for other conditions are still pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's left knee injury residuals with traumatic arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that there was not enough evidence to warrant a higher rating based on functional loss. The condition does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected residuals of total right knee replacement and granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee recurrent locking and joint effusion. The initial compensable disability rating for residual scar, right knee status post total knee replacement is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left ankle disability and gastritis, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since August 5, 2003. The Board has granted TDIU effective that date.

The Board denied service connection for neck, low back, and bilateral knee conditions as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.,No specific exposure basis (e.g., burn pit, Agent Orange) was mentioned.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating in excess of 30 percent for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a more comprehensive examination and consideration of functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for left knee, cervical spine, and thoracic spine conditions have been granted. The claim for PTSD remains denied.