Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's right leg below the knee amputation was granted a rating of 60 percent, effective from November 1, 2012. The Veteran's entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status was denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to April 14, 2017 and after that date, a separate rating of 20 percent for limitation of extension is granted. The Veteran's TDIU claim remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and ankle disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, but the Board has remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as a presumptive condition due to in-service noise exposure. The initial rating for his scar, left knee status-post meniscus repair and lateral meniscectomy is granted at 10 percent. His hearing loss is found not to be service-connected. Entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a bilateral foot disability, finding that the evidence is in equipoise with the claim as to whether these disabilities are related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus, right shoulder disability, and skin disability due to insufficient opinions in the original decision. The Veteran's current conditions are presumed service connected.

The request to reopen the claim for service connection for diverticulitis previously claimed as stomach condition (gastritis/pancreatitis) is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received for service connection for a knee condition, and the request to reopen the claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided in connection with these claims were inadequate for adjudication purposes as they did not provide a complete rationale for their opinions, did not consider the Veteran's lay statements and heavily relied on the absence of contemporaneous medical evidence to support negative nexus opinions.,Therefore, the Board finds that remand is necessary so that the RO can obtain new medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran’s disabilities are directly related to his service or otherwise proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar strain and right knee disabilities have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for the Veteran's lumbar strain disability and right knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee instability associated with DJD is rated at 20 percent, effective from January 4, 2017 to July 11, 2020. A 30 percent rating has been granted for the same condition as of July 12, 2020. The Veteran's right knee limitation of extension is rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The left hip and knee disabilities were not found to warrant higher disability ratings based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee strain have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his appeal by his representative.

The Board has decided the issues of increased rating for postoperative right knee scars and denied effective dates prior to July 1, 2015, for service connection for a psychiatric disability and Dependency Educational Assistance (DEA). The left knee disability issue is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disability, hypertension, and PTSD due to a significant gap in treatment records between the Veteran's discharge from service and his death. The RO is instructed to make efforts to obtain missing medical records from Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) and other sources.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee degenerative arthritis are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board has determined that these ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for tinea cruris and left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or an undiagnosed illness.,Both conditions were deemed to have no direct relation to service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for arthritis of the knees and legs has been denied as there is no evidence that his current condition began during or was caused by service.,The Veteran's service connection claim for tendonitis of the knees has been denied as there is no evidence that his current condition began during or was caused by service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for bilateral pes planus is denied as the current rating of 50 percent already reflects the severity of his disability.,Service connection for left Achilles tendonitis is dismissed due to lack of evidence supporting its service origin.,New and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for service connection for left knee disability and erectile dysfunction, but these conditions are not currently found to be related to service.,Tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.,Loss of teeth secondary to periodontal disease is not eligible for compensation under VA regulations.,Erectile dysfunction was also denied due to lack of evidence showing its onset during or within a presumptive period following service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable (zero percent) due to the severity of his symptoms not meeting criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran’s lumbar spine strain is currently rated at 10 percent, and no higher. The updated VA examinations did not show any additional impairment warranting a higher rating.,Left knee limitation of flexion is rated as noncompensable (zero percent).,Right knee limitation of flexion is rated as noncompensable (zero percent).,Left knee limitation of extension is rated at 10 percent.