Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions and non-compliance with previous directives. The Veteran's left knee disability is being reviewed again for service connection as secondary to their right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right below the knee amputation was denied as new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim. The claims of increased ratings for bilateral pseudophakia, left patella chondromalacia, and bronchial asthma are remanded for further examination and rating considerations. The TDIU issue is also remanded due to its inextricability with the other claims.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the current condition and the appellant's military service.

The Veteran's service connection for right and left knee disabilities was granted with effective dates of May 9, 2016. The right knee sprain manifested by painful limitation of flexion is granted with a 10% rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete compliance with prior remand directives and need for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee condition has been remanded for further evaluation due to issues with instability and limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and low back disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible assertions of in-service noise exposure and injury, as well as continuity of symptoms since service.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right inguinal hernia and scar associated with hernia repair are remanded due to the possibility of increased severity.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for stomach ulcers is remanded as there has not been an opinion regarding any relation to medication taken for his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's claims for a lumbar spine condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition are remanded due to the need for additional examination and opinion on secondary etiology.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a condition of the hips (claimed as bone deterioration) is remanded due to potential relation to radiation exposure during service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right inguinal hernia, stomach ulcers, lumbar spine condition, and bilateral knees are remanded due to need for additional examination on secondary etiology.,The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability is remanded as there is need for assessment of current functional impairment caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the appeal for development consistent with Joint Motions, including considering a mild valgus deformity of the left knee found in April 2012 and determining if it supports separate disability ratings. The Veteran is also being asked to undergo another VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings due to lack of substantial compliance with its November 2018 remand directives and because there is a need for updated treatment records, as well as VA examinations to assess the current state of the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and right knee disability.

The Veteran's total disability due to individual unemployability is granted, and his gastrointestinal disorder (including GERD and gastritis) is rated at 30 percent. The latter condition meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating under DC 7346.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea and mouth lesion. The right knee and left knee disabilities are denied as there is insufficient evidence to establish a nexus with service. The Veteran's sleep apnea claim is also remanded due to inadequate medical opinion regarding its relationship to PTSD or TBI. The Veteran's mouth lesion claim is remanded for consideration of the 2004 service treatment record. The right hand middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger disabilities are also remanded.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is not rated higher than 20 percent due to limitation of motion.,The Veteran's right ankle disability does not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for reopening the claims of left hip bursitis, right hip bursitis, right knee pain, and a right shoulder condition. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee and left thigh conditions due to incomplete medical records and need for further examination.

The Board denied increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating prior to March 23, 2020 or since March 23, 2020.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 40 percent since April 25, 2018. A separate 20 percent rating for limitation of flexion has been granted effective December 8, 2020.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is found to have started during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence reasonably shows these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's travel expenses to El Paso, Texas for mental health treatment were denied as he did not meet the income level requirements and there was no VA authorization of beneficiary travel payment prior to his treatment. The Board found that reimbursement was not warranted due to lack of prior authorization.