Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disability and instability due to outstanding VA treatment records, need for a new VA examination, and contradictory findings of instability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to unclear employment history and the need for clarification of his work hours, income, and dates from 2015 through 2018. The RO should request this information from the Veteran's previous employer.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to new evidence received in the record. The Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis and other conditions are being reviewed.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for kidney damage and left knee disability, finding that the proximate cause of these disabilities was not due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or other instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's migraine headaches were rated at 30% prior to September 1, 2022, and the Board found that they did not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,For the period from September 1, 2022, forward, the Veteran's migraine headaches met the criteria for a 50% rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations and failure to consider lay statements of record. The claims will be further developed to address the nature and etiology of any left calf, left knee, lumbosacral spine, and left lower extremity radiculopathy conditions.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability for VA purposes.,For the period prior to September 7, 2021, the Veteran's left knee DJD with patellofemoral syndrome was rated at 10 percent. From March 1, 2022, the rating has been denied as there is no evidence of a higher disability.,The Veteran's left knee replacement from June 15, 2018 to September 7, 2021, received a separate 10 percent rating for instability. From March 1, 2022, the Veteran's left knee replacement has been denied as there is no evidence of higher disability.,The Veteran's PTSD was granted at a 70 percent rating from June 15, 2018 to September 7, 2021. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis with tendonitis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that his current disability was not caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability and chronic otitis externa are granted. The claim for service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination, and a new one is needed for the Veteran's right knee arthritis.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication, including obtaining a new Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) that considers all evidence generated since the previous SSOC.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and hand conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of all relevant medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an orthopedic specialist's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran testified about stepping into a hole during service, causing his current knee impairment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right knee and right wrist disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability and nerve pain.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to ensure proper development and consideration of the Veteran's claims for increased disability rating for right knee strain with arthritis and TDIU. The Veteran will be provided an opportunity for a new VA examination, and his claims will be readjudicated after all relevant evidence is considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of whether the Veteran's right knee disability has worsened.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee condition and a 30 percent rating for his left knee instability, effective July 2022.

The Board has not obtained all requested service treatment records and did not document the attempts to locate them. The case is being remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability that meets the VA definition of hearing loss.,The Board finds that additional development is necessary to determine whether the Veteran's right knee and hip conditions are secondary to his left ankle fracture, or if they were aggravated by such condition. The claims are therefore remanded for further action.,Similarly, the Board finds that additional development is necessary to determine whether the Veteran's left hip condition is secondary to his left ankle fracture, or if it was aggravated by such condition. The claims are therefore remanded for further action.,The Board also finds that additional development is necessary to determine whether the Veteran's IBS disability is due to Gulf War Illness. The claims are therefore remanded for further action.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his military service, specifically his time in the Gulf War.