Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and bilateral foot disabilities due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation.,Service connection for tinnitus is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it began during active duty or is related to noise exposure.,Service connection for a neck disorder is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to service, and the Veteran's current diagnosis is attributed to natural aging process rather than in-service injury.,Service connection for hypertension is denied due to lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation.,Service connection for a right knee disorder is denied as there is no evidence showing it began during active duty or is related to noise exposure.,Service connection for left knee disability is granted with a 20% rating effective from November 14, 2016.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability is denied due to lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or aggravation.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity is granted with a 10% rating effective from June 11, 2018.,Service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity is denied as there is no evidence showing it began during active duty or is related to noise exposure.,Service connection for somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain is granted with a rating in excess of 70% effective from November 14, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) as his combined disability rating was not at least 70% and he did not meet the percentage requirements for consideration of a total evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a schedular rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and requests that an addendum opinion be provided regarding the baseline level of disability prior to aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating, service connection, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the medical evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluation and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for further examination of his right knee disability, as well as consideration of whether he is unemployable by reason of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service. The examiner must consider all pertinent medical and lay evidence of record, including the Veteran's assertions.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for his right knee disability was denied. A separate 20 percent rating was granted prior to June 27, 2011 for impairment of the semilunar cartilage. The Veteran's right knee disability is now rated under DC 5055 due to total knee replacement surgery in June 2011. Ratings higher than 30 and 60 percent were denied as of September 1, 2012 and May 20, 2019 respectively.

The Board has vacated the December 12, 2019 decision denying a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee strain with degenerative joint disease due to procedural issues. The case is now remanded for further action on both the increased rating claim and the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee limited/painful motion and recurrent instability/subluxation were denied as the evidence did not show that his symptoms warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent, respectively.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee, left knee, right shoulder, right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The appeals are currently pending due to new evidence received that may support these claims.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee meniscal pain, but denied an increased rating for patellofemoral syndrome, right knee.

The Board dismissed the appeals on the issues of rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee limitation of motion and instability due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's lumbar strain with osteoarthritis is granted a 20 percent evaluation, but no higher. The evaluations for left knee osteochondritis dissecans and right knee chondromalacia are denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current right knee conditions did not have their onset in service and are not related to his service-connected left knee condition.

The Veteran's migraines, cervical spine degenerative changes, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, left shoulder strain, right elbow epicondylitis, right knee patellofemoral syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right ankle strain have been granted higher initial disability ratings. The Veteran also received a 20 percent disability rating for left ankle degenerative changes, residual from left fibula fracture.

The Veteran's left knee total replacement is rated at 60 percent, effective the date of this decision.,The Veteran meets the schedular eligibility for a TDIU as of the date of this decision and his service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is caused or aggravated by service-connected conditions, including her bilateral knee disorder. Additional medical records are needed and a VA examination must be conducted.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding his back disability and knee disabilities. The case will be returned for these purposes.