Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting medical opinions and a need for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 22, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bunion and right knee disabilities, finding no current disability related to her active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a right ankle sprain due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding the etiology of these conditions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition and erectile dysfunction (ED) due to procedural issues related to VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral foot fungus, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility are granted. The Board has found the Veteran unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, which include left knee degenerative arthritis with limited extension, muscular atrophy, instability, and flexion limitations. The right knee disability is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding potential VA causation or aggravation. The rating for left knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of extension is also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated at 50 percent effective July 27, 2021. The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for left knee disability.,The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for a 20% rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability. The AOJ found that no increase in disability was factually ascertainable prior to May 10, 2016.,The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 60 percent and the Board has remanded this issue.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for headaches, left knee strain, and right knee strain due to insufficient medical opinions regarding service connection. Additional development is needed to address all theories of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability as being aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, secondary to his service-connected left and right knee disabilities, is granted. The reduction in rating for service-connected left ankle tarsal tunnel syndrome from 20% to noncompensable effective August 8, 2014, is not proper.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and ratings related to left knee, left ankle, right knee limitation of flexion, and right ankle degenerative joint disease.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee and back disabilities, as well as his claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability. The case is being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has ordered a new examination of the Veteran's knees due to incomplete information in the July 2022 report, including lack of range of motion data during weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing conditions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical records, clarify the Veteran's work history, and schedule a VA examination for his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is granted as secondary to his service-connected right shoulder disability. His initial rating for the right shoulder is also granted at 30 percent.

The Veteran's right ring finger disability is rated at the maximum noncompensable level due to traumatic arthritis, and his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to January 9, 2020. The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated based on limitation of motion.,The Veteran's right knee instability is separately rated at 10 percent.

Your appeal for service connection of right and left knee disabilities has been dismissed as you have withdrawn the appeal.

The Veteran's tinnitus is denied, but his DJD of both knees are granted. The appeal for service connection for tinnitus is dismissed as the claim was not about service connection at all.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right knee injury, degenerative disc disease (claimed as cervical neck injury), and sleep apnea due to the death of the appellant.