Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right foot disability aggravated her right knee disability. The claim will be reconsidered after obtaining a medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities, including her bilateral knee and lumbar spine conditions, have prevented her from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment since April 10, 2017.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been remanded for further development.,Separate ratings for instability of the left and right knees are proper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected right knee, now characterized as a total right knee replacement. As such, the claim for secondary service connection for the left knee disability is granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a 60 percent rating effective September 28, 2020.,All other claims were denied or granted with specific ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, but denied service connection for other conditions including a duodenal ulcer, lumbar spine disability, neuropathy of the lower legs, cervical spine disability, neuropathy of the upper arm, right ankle disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and bilateral shin splints.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee osteoarthritis due to his death during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records, and requests that VA attempt to obtain any remaining service medical records. The AOJ must document all efforts made and provide a formal finding of unavailability if no further records are found.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not related to his service, either directly or secondary to a service-connected condition. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of in-service injury or disease. Secondary service connection was also denied as there is no medical opinion linking the current knee conditions to the service-connected ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. His bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, diabetes mellitus at 20 percent, right and left knee degenerative joint disease each at 10 percent, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease at 10 percent, and erectile dysfunction did not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that it was not incurred in or due to his time in service and is not proximately due to any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and remanded the issues of rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee condition. The issue of service connection for diabetes is remanded due to inadequate opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination, and now requests another examination to determine the current level of disability for his service-connected Lyme disease residuals.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis are denied. Separate 10 percent ratings are granted for right and left knee instability from July 23, 2007 and continuing thereafter. The claim for TDIU is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting an addendum opinion from the April 2019 examiner to assess the Veteran's left knee disability during the period from September 18, 2015 to April 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to incomplete opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues include right knee, left ankle, right ankle, acid reflux (ulcer), and low back disorders.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders are related to his service-connected diabetes, but needs additional evidence to make a determination.