Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for an updated examination following his upcoming right knee total replacement surgery.,The Veteran's appeal remains on hold as the RO seeks to obtain additional relevant medical records, including those from private treatment providers and VA. The Veteran should be provided with a post-surgery examination if he reports that the surgery has been cancelled.,The Veteran is granted an extraschedular TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no current hearing loss disability in the right ear, and left ear hearing loss was rated at 0 percent. Hypertension, GERD, cervical spine degenerative joints with herniated nucleus pulposus, lumbar spine herniated nucleus pulpous with radiculitis down posterior leg, right knee effusion/degenerative changes, left knee degenerative changes, and OSA were not granted increased ratings or service connection.

The Board denied service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, right knee, and left hip disability as they are not related to active duty service.

The Board has granted a 20% disability rating for the service-connected right knee disability, effective from July 22, 2014. The left knee disability remains at a 10% rating.

The Veteran's left knee ligamentous strain and DJD were granted a 10 percent rating from September 6, 2013, but no earlier. The issues of increased ratings for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability are also granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle arthralgia are each rated at 10 percent. The Board denied the claims for higher ratings as there is no evidence of limitation of motion or instability that would warrant a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.

The Veteran is granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent for right knee instability from January 24, 2015, to May 20, 2015.

The Veteran's right ankle and left knee disabilities were evaluated, but the claims for increased ratings were denied as they did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

Service connection for a right elbow disability is dismissed.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for left ankle and right ankle disabilities are remanded.,Service connection for left foot bunions, corns and calluses, right foot bunions, corns and calluses, bilateral foot fungus and peeling, and left and right foot numbness are all remanded.,Service connection for headaches is remanded.,Service connection for Bell's palsy is remanded.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded.,Service connection for a left knee disability is remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee condition and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for intermittent lumbar strain (back condition). The Veteran's claims are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction for further development.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted at a 10% rating, effective from the date of the decision. The ratings for his right shoulder and right knee patellofemoral syndrome remain unchanged.

The Board dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's knee and instability issues, as well as the application to reopen a claim for lumbar spine disability due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for right and left hip disabilities, as well as right and left knee and calf disabilities. The claims were based on direct service connection rather than the presumption of undiagnosed illness or secondary to a service-connected condition.,The VA examiner found no evidence linking the hip and knee disabilities to Gulf War service or exposure to toxic chemicals.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of records and a need for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the need for additional development and examination of the Veteran's knee conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The effective date of service connection is also being remanded.

The Veteran's left knee conditions have been granted increased ratings, with the anterior intrameniscal ligament tear and degenerative arthritis receiving a maximum schedular rating of 20 percent effective August 26, 2016. The instability condition received a maximum schedular rating of 30 percent effective January 6, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, a right knee disorder, and seizures due to conflicting evidence and insufficient opinions in the VA examinations.