Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for right knee degenerative arthritis and residuals of a right knee injury with instability due to inadequate range of motion testing in weight-bearing.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings of 60 percent each, effective from January 14, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot pes planus, right knee disability, and low back disability. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.,The VA examiners provided opinions indicating that there was no direct link between the current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's left knee arthralgia with arthritis, post-operative, is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his condition does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases due to lack of substantial compliance with previous instructions and for obtaining additional medical records.

The Veteran's right and left knee disorders have been rated at 10% each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's chronic body pain is related to his service or service-connected disabilities, specifically prostate cancer and PTSD. The Veteran needs a VA examination to clarify these issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of lumbosacral strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are being remanded due to incomplete records. Additional examinations may be necessary.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20% effective November 21, 2019. The previous rating of 10% prior to that date is being discontinued.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a service-connected left knee disability was denied. The Veteran also had claims for instability of the left knee and separate ratings, but these were not addressed as they are considered part of the main issue.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeals.

The Board dismissed the appeal for a left knee disability.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability was granted, with evidence indicating that his condition likely began during active duty and was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a right elbow disability was granted. However, the underlying claim for service connection is denied. The claims for increased ratings for knee instability and arthritis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for various conditions due to potential changes in the Veteran's character of discharge from his period of service. The appeal is not about a presumption, exposure basis, or new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability caused his fall resulting in a right tibia fracture. The VA examiner is requested to provide an opinion on this issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they did not render him unemployable at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as headaches, have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for these conditions.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded to determine the current severity of the condition.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees, finding that these conditions are related to injuries sustained during active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability due to insufficient VA examination reflecting his functional limitations prior to October 7, 2009. The case is also remanded for an increased rating claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee injury and COPD due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives. Additional development is required, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a clinician that addresses conflicting medical evidence of record and the Veteran's lay contentions.