Knee Board decisions

The Board has found the evidence insufficient to adjudicate the Veteran's claims at this time and has remanded for further development, including VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and ankle disabilities, as well as psoriasis due to lack of STRs and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and remanded the issues of TBI with headaches, left knee strain, right knee strain, and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip and right knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability. The decision is based on medical opinions that suggest a leg length discrepancy may contribute to the Veteran's current hip and knee pain.

The Veteran's appeal for initial compensable ratings for a ventral hernia and residual abdominal surgical scarring associated with a ventral hernia, as well as his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, chest wall pain, a respiratory disorder, and a right hip disorder have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. From December 16, 2010, the Veteran is entitled to an initial 10 percent rating for his right knee chondromalacia.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for right thumb, right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities.

The Veteran's sexual dysfunction is not related to service, as there are no in-service complaints or diagnoses. The claim is denied.,There is insufficient evidence linking the bilateral knee disorder and arthritis to service. The claim is denied.,Hypertension is not linked to service. The claim is denied.,The chronic lower-GI disorder is also not related to service, with no in-service complaints or diagnoses noted. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee strain, as well as her claim for TDIU based on service-connected disabilities, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU due to her combined disability rating of 40 percent.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the merits of the Veteran's claims, including those related to service connection for various conditions. The case is therefore being remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for a left knee disability prior to September 11, 2019 is denied. The Veteran's post total knee replacement rating since November 1, 2020 is also denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension has been granted. The low back disability remains rated at 40 percent prior to March 8, 2019, and in excess of 40 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim for service connection of a left knee condition was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee disability, right knee disability, and left foot disability have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected low back disability.,Service connection has also been granted for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and Bipolar Disorder) and hypertension. However, these issues are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed headache, IBS, and GERD disabilities. The Board also denied service connection for his left knee, right heel, and right ankle disabilities as secondary to service-connected PTSD, scar of the right ankle, tinnitus, and/or other conditions. No rating was assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 22, 2017. The Board denied the TDIU claims as there was no single service-connected disability (excluding multiple myeloma rated 100%) rendering the Veteran unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from December 22, 2017.

The Board has denied service connection for right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee conditions as there is no evidence of such conditions during or within one year after active service.,Service connection was also denied for a neck condition due to the lack of in-service diagnosis and no link to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions on causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for left knee conditions was denied. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for left knee extension from April 19, 2022 to 10 degrees. The Veteran also received a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right knee disability, left knee disability, and TDIU have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of fracture of the right middle finger is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder and/or TBI are remanded, as well as the determination regarding the character of discharge from February 1978 to January 1981.