Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted after the most recent Supplemental Statement of the Case. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition will be reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is etiologically related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further medical examinations. The issues of service connection are being returned to the RO for additional development.

The Veteran's left knee and right foot disabilities have been denied as service-connected.,The Veteran's left foot disability has also been denied as service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patella, finding that it is attributable to service.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA standards. The issues of entitlement to service connection for sleep disturbance and bilateral knee condition are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome have been rated at 10 percent, but no higher. The Board denied increased ratings for the disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar strain, right ankle sprain, and right knee DJD have all been denied higher ratings.,Specifically, the Veteran's lumbar strain is rated at 20 percent prior to June 2, 2010, but not in excess of that. His right ankle sprain has a maximum rating of 20 percent as of June 2, 2010. His right knee DJD also has the maximum schedular rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination by an orthopedic specialist to assess his service-connected right knee condition. The TDIU and DEA benefits claims are also being remanded.

The Board has granted a rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee scar, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions addressing his lay contentions of in-service injuries and their progression.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee disabilities and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,An effective date prior to June 5, 2019 is denied for the grant of service connection for left knee meniscal and anterior cruciate ligament tears and strain with osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient information in his initial notice of disagreement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings must be remanded due to inadequate VA examination reports. The issues are related, so a remand is required for all of them.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis is granted. The case is also remanded for further development regarding a leg length discrepancy and back disability secondary to the left knee surgery.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, and he is granted a TDIU since December 6, 2016. Effective December 6, 2016, the Veteran is also granted SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his bilateral knee conditions due to a lack of adequate examination and because the regional office issued a rating decision that did not constitute full grants of the benefits sought.

The Board has found that additional evidence is needed to determine the etiology of the veteran's claimed disabilities, and thus remands the cases for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted a 10% rating effective June 5, 2020. The left knee instability and dislocated semilunar cartilage are each granted a 30% rating effective June 5, 2020. The low back disability, right sciatic nerve radiculopathy, and left sciatic nerve radiculopathy are all granted 40% ratings effective June 5, 2020.,TDIU from March 31, 2010 to April 6, 2015, and August 2, 2016 to July 5, 2017 is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and left knee disability due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran is also requested to provide any STRs in his possession.