Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection for a right knee disability, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has found that the claims for service connection for right knee injury and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease need further development due to inadequate medical opinions. The case is being remanded to obtain addendum opinions from VA examiners.

The Board denied increased ratings for right knee instability and arthritis, as well as left knee instability. The Veteran's conditions were found to not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee replacement, status post osteoarthritis, is secondary to his service-connected residuals of right great toe fracture and/or service-connected right knee replacement, status post osteoarthritis. The issue of entitlement to service connection for painful scars, as secondary to left knee replacement, remains remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for multiple joint arthritis of the left shoulder, lumbar spine, and knees. The claim for bilateral nuclear sclerotic cataract is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete development of evidence, including failure to address relevant DBQs and VA treatment records. The RO must obtain updated VA treatment records, conduct new examinations per Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017), issue an adequate SSOC, and readjudicate the claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has denied service connection for back problems and left knee degenerative joint disease (claimed as knee problem) due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service. The case is being remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee injuries, to include arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease during or within one year after service and concluding that his current osteoarthritis is more likely due to obesity and aging rather than military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee degenerative joint disease, and TDIU due to inadequate medical opinions and missing records. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and hearing loss due to additional development being needed, including obtaining private treatment records from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and further development is needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees, as well as his right shoulder osteoarthritis with replacement, were denied. The rating decisions maintained existing disability evaluations.

A rating of 40 percent for right knee arthritis with limitation of extension is granted from June 25, 2008 to July 10, 2018.,An increased rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative medial meniscus (other than based on arthritis) is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral total knee arthroplasty is related to injuries sustained during service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for athlete's foot and scar disabilities, but has remanded the cases of back disability, dental condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, and joint and muscle pain.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of right hip and knee disabilities due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for right foot plantar fasciitis and entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. Additional evidence is needed, including VA treatment records from Memphis Vista and Chicago Vista electronic systems.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for ratings related to his left knee conditions need further development and are therefore remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition, left knee condition, and degenerative arthritis of the spine (back condition). The decision is based on evidence showing that these conditions are related to his military service.,There was no direct evidence linking the Veteran’s current disabilities to his service. However, the Board found that the Veteran had complaints of knee pain during service and after discharge, which led to a thorough review of medical records and opinions from VA and private physicians.