Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development, including obtaining updated employment information and a VA vocational specialist's opinion on the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination due to increased symptomatology reported by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various hip, knee, ankle, and shin splints disorders are being remanded due to the need for additional development. Specifically, VA treatment records from June 2020 at John Cochran VAMC in St. Louis, Missouri must be obtained.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to additional development being required, including verification of alleged exposure to herbicides and lead paint during service.

The Board has determined that the AOJ did not properly verify the Veteran's periods of active duty service and did not secure an opinion regarding the likely etiology of the claimed right ankle condition. The case is being remanded to address these issues.

The Veteran's right knee replacement with degenerative joint disease and instability is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the minimum rating. The Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted under either the old or new rating criteria.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of various hip, knee, and shoulder disabilities as he withdrew his appeals prior to a decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disability and back disability, as well as the claim for TDIU due to insufficient examination reports in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, lumbar spine disability, knee disabilities, postoperative left inguinal hernia repair residuals, right shoulder disability, and left hip disability are all denied as the evidence does not support a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disabilities require additional examination to determine their current severity, as well as whether they are caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions. The AOJ should ensure all relevant records are obtained and provide a new VA examination for both disabilities.

The Veteran's tension headaches are caused by his service-connected bilateral pes cavus with metatarsalgia, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right foot, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left and right knee, and left lower extremity femoral radiculopathy. The Board has granted service connection for these headaches on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left knee trauma residuals are granted. The initial compensable rating claim for bilateral hearing loss since June 28, 2016 is denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by painful noncompensable motion, has not met the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, right hip, and lumbar spine disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic right ankle sprain with arthritis and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, hepatitis C, and arthritis of the lower extremities are all granted as service-connected.,However, his bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and PVD remain in dispute and need further examination.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and left and right knees have been granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability has been denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran’s GERD may be related to his military service and exposure to chemicals in service. Further examination and opinion are needed.,The Veteran's back disability may be related to his military service and exposure to chemicals in service. Further examination and opinion are needed.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disability may be related to his military service and exposure to chemicals in service. Further examination and opinion are needed.,The Veteran's neck disability may be related to his military service and exposure to chemicals in service. Further examination and opinion are needed.,The Veteran's right elbow disability may be related to his military service and exposure to chemicals in service. Further examination and opinion are needed.,Further examination and opinion are needed for the Veteran’s bilateral hearing loss.