Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical examination in October 2015, and additional development is needed to address the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to May 22, 2018 and effective July 1, 2019.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement was not more nearly manifested by severe painful motion or weakness prior to April 3, 2019. As such, an evaluation in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability, right knee disability, and right knee scar have been granted service connection. The TDIU issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left and right knee disorders due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board restored the Veteran's 20 percent rating for right knee disability from May 31, 2016. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee instability prior to November 24, 2020 was denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating as his condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for Right Knee Disability, Low Back Disability, and Right Hip Disability secondary to a service-connected left knee disability due to insufficient reasons or bases provided in previous decisions.

The Veteran's kidney disorder, diabetic nephropathy, is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II. The claims for left hip flexor strain and left knee with synovitis are remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA did not substantially comply with its remand directives and requires further development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including bilateral eye disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to inadequate examinations and missing private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and reopening of claims have been withdrawn. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding obstructive sleep apnea, whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the previously denied service connection claim for a bilateral knee disorder, and whether new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the previously denied service connection claim for a back disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including an addendum opinion to address conflicting medical evidence in the February 2019 and December 2019 VA examination reports.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee arthritis status post ACL reconstruction and meniscal repair is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence after the most recent adjudication.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it had onset in service. Service connection for left hand, right hand, left knee, and right knee arthritis were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for left knee disability and lumbar spine disability to his service-connected bilateral flat feet with osteoarthritis and tarsal tunnel syndrome. The claim for hiatal hernia, prostate disability, and fibromyalgia remains pending as they are not currently supported by evidence of a direct service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, but denied them as secondary to a foot disability. The spine disorder claim is remanded.,Service connection for the Veteran's spine disorder remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bone pain, including as due to bone density loss related to osteoporosis and osteopenia or related to arthritis and degenerative disc disease. The VA examiners concluded that these conditions did not clearly pre-exist service, were not incurred in service, and are not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to schedule a VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran is currently incarcerated and the AOJ needs to arrange transportation or conduct an examination at the prison.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development of the Veteran's SSA records and failure to schedule a VA examination. The claims are being returned for further action.