Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing service treatment records and new examinations are needed to assess his current diagnoses and determine if they are related to active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, finding no evidence of in-service injury or chronic condition that could be linked to his current symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for a right kidney removal was denied.,His claim for service connection of his right knee disability, which is secondary to his service-connected left knee and ankle disabilities, was also denied.

The Veteran's left foot disability is granted as secondary to her service-connected right foot and bilateral knee disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for her bilateral knees are remanded.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee arthroplasty. The need for aid and attendance due to multiple service-connected disabilities is also granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for left knee disability is denied, and has remanded the increased rating claim for allergic rhinitis. The decision on the left knee disability will proceed as it stands, but the increased rating claim for allergic rhinitis requires a new VA examination to assess current severity.

The Board has remanded the cases of bilateral shin splints, left knee disorder, and residuals of a right toe injury for further development. The Veteran's service connection claims will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left shoulder disorders, a right hip disorder, a left knee disorder, and a right ankle disorder as these conditions are not shown to be related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and therefore no effective date determinations were made.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for right hip arthritis, right knee arthritis, right ankle arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, right elbow arthritis, and right wrist arthritis. The reasons include the need to obtain VA treatment records and VRE records, as well as a new VA examination to assess current right extremity joint conditions.

The Board has restored a separate rating for left knee subluxation from August 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues with his lumbar spine, hearing loss, tinnitus, thoracic spine, and right knee disabilities. The claims are being reviewed again as separate issues.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.,A TDIU claim is also being remanded as part of this appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and increased ratings for chronic right knee strain and chronic left knee strain, with a rating of 10 percent each.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his service-connected disabilities, including right shoulder-AC separation, right knee strain (recharacterized as total knee replacement), cervical spine disability, lumbosacral strain, left elbow avulsion injury with residuals, left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome, GERD, malaria residuals, headaches, and bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for his right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding service records that need to be obtained for a right knee disorder, including an SF 600 Chronological Record of Medical Care from April 2012 to May 2013.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, but has remanded them due to additional development being needed. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and heart disorder are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed the issues related to right arm tendonitis, left subacromial subdeltoid bursitis, and left shoulder service connection as they were not on appeal. The remaining claims of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and lumbosacral strain are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left and right total knee replacements are rated at 60 percent prior to September 25, 2020. Ratings in excess of 60 percent for both knees since that date are denied.