Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hip and right knee conditions due to inadequate examinations in prior VA examinations. The Veteran is required to undergo new examinations to determine the current severity of his hip and knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disability and left knee disorder due to the need for updated VA examinations and a new opinion regarding service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for right knee medial compartment arthritis, chondromalacia of the patella, and patellofemoral arthritis is denied. The Board finds that his functional impairment does not meet or approximate limitation of flexion to 30 degrees.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability, does not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.,There was no credible evidence linking the current right knee or psychiatric disabilities to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for her right and left degenerative knee conditions, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not caused by her service-connected foot condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for Reiter's Syndrome, left and right total knee arthroplasty have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU has also been denied.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disorder was denied, and his initial disability rating for PTSD was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition arising from his in-service injury and no relationship between his current right knee disability and military service or his right knee and a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right ankle strain is rated at 10% and not entitled to a higher rating.,There is no evidence of a back disorder related to service, and the claim for service connection is denied.,Service connection has been granted for the right shoulder disorder, but it was not incurred in or caused by service.,The Veteran's right knee and left knee disorders are not considered to be related to service.,There is no evidence of a back disorder related to service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical examinations and for further development of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's right knee disability and recurrent subluxation or lateral instability have been granted increased ratings, a TDIU has been awarded, and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits has been established. The effective dates are January 31, 2012, September 20, 2013, and January 31, 2012 respectively.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD is etiologically related to her active service and grants this claim. The right knee condition claim is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right upper extremity disability, right lower extremity disability, left lower extremity disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and right knee disability. The Board found that these conditions did not have their onset in service or are not related to any service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's post-operative scar resulting from removal of a sebaceous cyst resulted in several small surgical scars which were not deep, did not involve tissue loss, and were less than 39 sq. cm. in size.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis of the patellofemoral compartment is granted as service-connected.,For the period prior to October 29, 2019, the Veteran's right shoulder disability did not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating. From October 29, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's right shoulder disability meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating.,For the period from October 29, 2019 onwards, the Veteran's left shoulder disability meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to address whether the Veteran's low back, right hip, and right ankle disabilities are related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to her inaction regarding employment history and earnings information. The case is returned for further development, including obtaining complete occupational history from August 2007 onwards.

The Board has granted clothing allowance claims for the use of left knee and left ankle braces in 2018, finding that they caused damage to the Veteran's clothing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination and need for further development of his left knee disability.