Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee disorder and pulmonary embolism due to inadequate examinations, need for additional medical opinions, and issues regarding service connection theory.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to concerns regarding clarification of diagnoses and etiology, as well as consideration of lay contentions.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is remanded due to the failure of the VA examination to address all service-connected conditions and inconsistencies in the examiner's opinions. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for an addendum/updated opinion regarding the issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has denied service connection for right ankle and right knee disabilities as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease that caused the current conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded several issues including those related to thyroid disability, hypertension, neck disability, back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral ankle disabilities, bilateral hamstring disabilities, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and sleep apnea. The case is also remanded for additional development regarding herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee degenerative joint disease due to insufficient evidence in the August 2014 VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations, as well as requests for private medical records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI and related conditions, including headaches, was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Veteran's right and left knee arthritis are currently rated at 40 percent, but the Board found that they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there was no limitation of extension or flexion to 45 degrees, ankylosis, instability, subluxation, or other conditions warranting additional ratings. The Veteran's symptoms were considered in determining the appropriate disability rating.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical strain disabilities due to their secondary nature to his service-connected right knee disability. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient examination reports, particularly regarding the severity of his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider combined effects of service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for a VA examination of his right knee disability, and another VA examination or opinion regarding the combined effects of his impairments.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection of a left knee disability. The Veteran's left knee disorder is found to be as likely as not caused by his service-connected right knee disability, thus granting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has found that a 30 percent rating is warranted for each knee, but the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities may warrant higher ratings. The issues of increased ratings and eligibility for special monthly compensation are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for right knee arthritis and cartilage loss from June 1, 2005 is dismissed. The earlier effective date claims for increased hearing loss and SMC based on hearing loss are denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for tinnitus service connection is also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, as well as to obtain additional medical records. The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left knee disability, cervical spine disorder, right shoulder disorder, functional dyspepsia, and right knee disability are still pending.

The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as internal derangement with degenerative changes, is rated at 10 percent. A separate 10 percent rating for instability of the left knee is granted.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional examinations and opinions due to inadequate VA examination reports. The claims of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia of the right knee and left knee from December 23, 2005 are being reviewed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various knee and back disabilities have been denied. The lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis are all rated as they currently stand.