Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability, including limitation of flexion and instability, is rated at 10 percent. The Veteran also has separate ratings for focal neuropathy involving the common peroneal nerve (20 percent) and femoral nerve (20 percent).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete compliance with previous directives and new evidence is needed. The issues include left shoulder, left knee, right knee, low back, and sciatica (left side) disorders.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,Service connection is granted for hypertension, as it was diagnosed within one year of separation from service and presumed related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, Raynaud's syndrome, right knee meniscectomy, left knee replacement, and cervical spine disorder are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for the left shoulder disorder is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, arthritis of the right knee, and arthritis of the left knee. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Veteran's partial right knee replacement is currently rated at 10 percent prior to January 24, 2020 and 20 percent since that date. The Board finds the current ratings are appropriate.,For the period prior to January 24, 2020, the Veteran’s right knee was manifested by flexion to 130 degrees and extension to zero degrees with tenderness, swelling and pain; there was no evidence of recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, or dislocated semilunar cartilage. For the period since January 24, 2020, the Veteran’s right knee was manifested by flexion to 30 degrees and extension to zero degrees with tenderness, pain, swelling, weakness and fatigue; there was no evidence of recurrent subluxation, lateral instability, or dislocated semilunar cartilage.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right leg pain as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, and remanded the issue of an increased rating for a left arm scar.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities, all claimed to be due to frostbite during active duty. The RO is directed to obtain any outstanding VA or private treatment records, including those from Dr. T.G., and schedule a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his PTSD, left knee meniscal tear, and cervical spine disability. The TDIU issue remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left leg below-the-knee amputation surgery due to a lack of substantial compliance with its July 2020 remand directive and deficiencies in the September 2020 VA opinion.

The Board has decided to remand several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, disability ratings, and TDIU claim due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The issues include obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar stenosis, right knee sciatic radulopathy, left knee sciatic radulopathy, and TDIU prior to October 3, 2015.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and TDIU for right and left total knee replacements due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's bilateral great toe disability, right meniscus disability, and right knee degenerative joint disease are service-connected. The Veteran's right knee replacement with residuals is rated at the highest available rating of 30 percent.

The Board denied a higher rating for left knee replacement scars, finding that the scars were neither painful nor unstable and did not cover an area of 39 square centimeters or more.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his sleep apnea, low back condition, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis status post total knee replacement, and bilateral hearing loss. The VA needs to obtain additional examinations and provide adequate rationale for their conclusions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and failure to address his contentions regarding chronic pain. The claims are now pending for further development.

The Board has dismissed all appeals related to the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of knee conditions due to his death.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development due to insufficient information regarding flare-ups of the Veteran's left knee and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected TBI, depressive disorder, headaches, and tinnitus. Other service connection claims are either denied or remanded.

The Veteran's right knee brace and TENS unit, used for his service-connected disabilities, caused wear and tear to his clothing. The Board granted an annual clothing allowance for the year 2017 based on this finding.