Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the issues of appendix removal, gall bladder removal, vision disorder, body sweats, hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, tinnitus, colon cancer (also claimed as partial colon/intestinal removal), testicular cancer and removal, Barrett's esophagus, right foot peripheral neuropathy, left foot peripheral neuropathy, right hand peripheral neuropathy, left hand peripheral neuropathy, chronic fatigue syndrome, right knee disability, left knee disability, hepatitis C, malaise, neck surgery broken vertebra, sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome, subcutaneous cell carcinoma, and an acquired psychiatric disorder have been withdrawn. The remaining issues of service connection for hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, and tinnitus are REMANDED.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, sinusitis, and back disability. The claims are remanded for further development including VA examinations to determine the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disorders and their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of the right knee post-operative scar, status-post arthroplasty scar, and painful right knee scar have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable VA regulations.,Further development is needed to determine if there are additional scars or complications related to the service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for hammer toes and a bilateral lower extremity condition, including degenerative joint disease of the knees. The Veteran's hammer toes were not found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for various knee, ankle, hip, and back disorders have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence that would warrant the granted rating.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, including the claims for service connection for sinusitis and reopening previously denied claims of service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability, a back disability, a right knee disability, and a left knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment from December 25, 2013 through September 7, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities at least as likely as not result in him needing regular aid and attendance of another person, warranting entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left knee injury as new and material evidence had not been presented with respect to his previously denied claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran regarding his jump status while in service. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these disabilities are at least as likely as not related to this in-service jump status.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee instability, limitation of flexion, and left ankle sprain with degenerative joint disease have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under either the former or revised VA regulations.

The Veteran's right knee replacement is rated at 60 percent disabling, and he is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reports of flare-ups and functional impact during those flare-ups. The issues include left knee strain, lumbar spine strain with arthritis, and radiculopathy of the left lower extremity.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20% for dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint; 10% for limitation of extension; and 10% for slight instability. The total rating is 30%.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding VA and private treatment records not being obtained.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional information and examination regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, which may be related to service-connected right knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of bilateral knee disabilities and TDIU, finding no evidence to support a link between his current knee conditions and his military service.