Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection of his right knee, right hip, left hip, bilateral foot, bilateral ankle conditions, and joint pain are granted as they are found to be related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left little finger disability and granted it. The claims for TBI, right and left knee disabilities, right hip disability, and left hip disability are denied.,Service connection is not established for rhabdomyolysis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, bilateral foot disability, sleep apnea, and erectile dysfunction due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active duty or reserve service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The regional office will review this evidence and consider its impact on the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, lumbar strain, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for removal of left eye cataract and replacement with intraocular lens with traumatic iris damage is denied.,The Veteran's right knee limitation of flexion is not rated in excess of 10 percent, but a separate rating of 10 percent for right knee instability is granted.

The Veteran's left knee anterior cruciate ligament laxity with limitation of flexion is granted a post-convalescence evaluation of 10 percent from February 1, 2008 to August 19, 2020.,The Veteran's left knee anterior cruciate ligament laxity with locking, effusion and pain is granted a post-convalescence evaluation of 20 percent effective August 19, 2020.

The Veteran's right knee disability is not service-connected as it did not originate in service or within one year of discharge, and is not otherwise etiologically related to service.,Service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) cannot be established as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of GERD.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and another remand is required for both left knee disability and hypertension cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including multiple musculoskeletal issues and PTSD, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 12, 2010. His TDIU is granted effective from that date.

The Veteran's service connection for left wrist strain is granted, and an initial rating of 10 percent for right knee limitation of flexion (degenerative joint disease) is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right knee tendonitis and instability have been denied by the Board. The initial rating for right knee tendonitis remains at 10 percent, while a compensable rating for right knee instability prior to March 6, 2018, is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s left knee degenerative joint disease with limitation of motion does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, and his chondromalacia patella of the left knee with instability does not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent. His left total knee arthroplasty is rated at 30 percent since June 1, 2015.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to the use of bilateral knee braces, back brace, and wrist braces have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a clothing allowance as his service-connected disabilities do not result in the requisite loss of use of hands or feet, nor are his braces certified by the Under Secretary for Health or designee to cause wear and tear on articles of clothing.,The Veteran's claims were remanded due to missing records including the September 2017 decision, April 2018 Notice of Disagreement, Statement of the Case, Substantive Appeal, and Application for Clothing Allowance forms.

The Board has remanded the claims for reopening service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and new evidence is needed.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated based on limitation of motion, with a separate rating for meniscal tear.,A TDIU claim is also remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding the impact of service-connected disabilities on employment.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development to address the severity of his bilateral knee disorders, neurological abnormalities associated with service-connected lumbar spine disorder, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inconsistencies in medical opinions and need for additional examinations. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and rheumatoid arthritis are now before the Board.

The Board has remanded the claims for psychiatric disability, headache disability, left and right athlete’s foot and toenail fungus, and right knee disability due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is to be provided additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities.