Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee instability and DJD are currently rated at 10 percent, while the meniscus tear is rated at 10 percent. The disability rating for right knee instability has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to updated rating criteria for knee disabilities and unclear information regarding prescribed assistive devices.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to new evidence received. However, the claims are still pending as they have been remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the service connection for back and knee disabilities, as well as their relationship to a previously service-connected sesamoid fracture of the left foot.

The Board denied service connection for basal cell cancer, cervical spine disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's conditions were not shown to be related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal on the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for hypertension and right knee sprain has been withdrawn.,The Veteran's Crohn's disease is granted with a rating of 60 percent, but no greater. The Veteran's shingles scars are denied as not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for associated lumbar spine radiculopathy, right lower extremity (RLE), is remanded due to a lack of notification and the need for a current examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, right (dominant) shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence on the nexus between active service and these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, right (dominant) shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence on the nexus between active service and these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right (dominant) shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence on the nexus between active service and these conditions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, right (dominant) shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability are all remanded due to insufficient evidence on the nexus between active service and these conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical spine disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence on the nexus between active service and this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, skin disorders, a lumbar spine disability, GERD, right knee disabilities, and TDIU. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment from February 1, 2000. The effective date for the TDIU is set at February 1, 2000.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome, finding that his current condition is due to symptoms he reported during service and continuing since then.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability, including post-operative anterior cruciate ligament tear and degenerative arthritis, is already rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20 percent under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5258 for semilunar cartilage dislocation with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint. A separate rating for limitation of motion due to arthritis is not warranted.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis status post lateral meniscectomy and right knee joint osteoarthritis with instability have been rated at 20 percent each, but the RO has denied an increased rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from July 31, 2006. The Board also referred the issue of TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to July 31, 2006 for further review.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Board is requesting further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee conditions, including DJD and a ruptured quadriceps tendon.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. Specifically, a VA examiner is needed to determine if his pre-existing left knee condition was aggravated by military service and whether his current back, hip, and shoulder conditions are related to his military service.

The claims for service connection of right knee and low back disabilities have been reopened. The claim for service connection of acquired psychiatric disorder including depression has also been reopened, but the claim for service connection of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining treatment records. The claim of reopening the previously denied service connection for a right knee disability is granted.

The Veteran's left knee condition is rated at 30 percent prior to September 26, 2019 and granted a rating of 60 percent beginning on that date. The appeal for an increased rating remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not show it was related to service or caused by a service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that his pre-existing condition did not worsen during service. The right-hand and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence on their etiology.