Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings of his psychiatric and right knee disabilities, as well as claims for service connection for left knee and right toe disabilities, have been dismissed. The Veteran's GERD has been granted a 60% disability rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD are all denied.,The Veteran's claim for TDIU is considered abandoned due to his failure to submit the requested VA Form 21-8940.

The Board has denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as both conditions are currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings and the need for further evidence, including a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for right knee and right ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to active service, with the exception that the earliest documented symptoms were over 28 years after separation from service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition as the preexisting condition did not increase in severity during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to additional evidence and need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee instability and limitation of motion was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 20 percent for instability or a rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of motion prior to August 20, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee iliotibial band tear, post dislocation with degenerative joint disease and for a total rating based on individual unemployability prior to October 7, 2018 due to outstanding VA treatment records and incomplete employment information.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for right hip condition, left hip condition, left knee condition, and right ear hearing loss. The claim for a rating higher than 20 percent for chronic low back strain was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including mechanical low back pain, knee conditions, and radiculopathy, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's left knee DJD is now rated at 20% from July 18, 2014. His right hip DJD remains at a non-compensable rating prior to and after this date. The Veteran also received TDIU benefits effective December 6, 2010.

The Veteran's bilateral hand tremors are found to be secondary to his service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for sinusitis is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service or related complaints therein.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected pseudo folliculitis barbae is currently rated at 60 percent, but the Board has remanded several other issues for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right arm, knee, foot, and ankle disabilities due to incomplete records. The Veteran will need to provide information about any private healthcare providers who have treated him for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, including a previously service-connected ankle disability. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's increased ratings for her left and right knee disabilities have been denied. Separate additional ratings of 10 percent each were granted for instability in both knees starting from June 4, 2006.

The Veteran's left knee instability is rated at 20 percent, and the claim for a higher rating based on limitation of motion is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to procedural errors in the previous rating decisions. The Board will request a new VA examination to assess functional loss during flare-ups, provide retrospective estimates of range of motion testing, and address symptoms related to meniscus injuries.