Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development. The Board found no evidence of moderate instability and thus denied a higher rating for right knee instability prior to July 6, 2015. For the period from September 1, 2016 to June 13, 2018, the Veteran's right total knee replacement is rated at 60 percent based on intermediate degrees of residual weakness, pain or limitation of motion.

The Board has dismissed all appeals seeking service connection for various conditions, as the appellant died before a decision was made.

The Board dismissed all withdrawn issues related to PTSD, bilateral shoulder disabilities, pinguecula, and other conditions. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70% for the period prior to May 6, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder, finding that there was no in-service injury or illness and no continuity of symptomatology after service. The Board also found that the Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish a medical nexus between his current left knee disorder and his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he is unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, including a mental condition rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether the Veteran experienced bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, left knee disability, and back disability during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right ankle disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, and bilateral pes planus due to inadequate opinions provided by VA examiners. The examiners were instructed to consider the Veteran's lay statements and complaints but failed to do so.

The Veteran's right knee DJD with loss of extension is currently rated at 10 percent prior to September 26, 2019, and at 30 percent from that date. The Board has found the VA examiner’s opinion insufficient due to lack of consideration of the Veteran's reports of instability and use of a brace.

The Veteran's right and left knee disorders, as well as his left ankle disorder, have been granted increased ratings. The right knee has been rated at 20% since July 18, 2008, for moderate lateral instability with pain during noncompensable motion loss. The left knee has also been rated at 20%, and the left ankle has been rated at 10%. These decisions are effective as of July 18, 2008.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability due to regulatory changes and the need for a new comprehensive VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, finding that her current left knee disability is not related to her military service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction is also granted as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to outstanding medical records, need for further examination, and consideration of TDIU.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates as these issues are not properly before the Board due to a lack of disagreement with the effective dates in the August 2020 rating decision.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability. The appeal is dismissed for the remaining issues.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence and needs further examination of the Veteran's left knee strain.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability, bilateral knee disability, and right wrist disability due to inadequate opinions from previous VA examiners.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbar strain myositis, central herniated nucleus pulposus at L4/L5 is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions regarding the appellant's character of discharge, service connection claims, and mental health status. The VA will seek additional records and conduct examinations to determine these issues.