Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's gout disability is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board found that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of definite impairment of health or three or more incapacitating exacerbations per year.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a duty to assist error, and denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for lower back problems, left knee degeneration, and sleep apnea. The claims for tinnitus are not reopened.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a right hip disability, finding no evidence of such disabilities during or related to active duty service.,Service connection was also denied for left upper extremity neurological disorder (claimed as neuropathy) and right upper extremity neurological disorder (claimed as neuropathy), with the case being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right and left knee disabilities, and pes planus. The Veteran's attorney requested a revision of the May 2009 rating decision based on CUE in not considering entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hip and knee conditions are related to service, but further development is needed for a proper determination.

The Board denied service connection and increased rating claims, finding no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service onset or relationship between his current conditions and military service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for left and right knee disorders due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and back disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The issues are whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, or if they had their onset in service.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis, status post total knee arthroplasty, is rated at 30 percent prior to February 1, 2019. A separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension of the left knee is granted. The TDIU claim is remanded.

Your initial rating for left knee strain with joint osteoarthritis from April 15, 2019 to November 19, 2019 has been granted at a 10 percent disability rating. However, the appeal is dismissed because you did not clearly identify which issue you wanted to appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right knee disorder are granted as service-connected. The case is remanded for further verification of National Guard service periods and to obtain relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for psychiatric disabilities, sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, knee disabilities, and a right index finger disability. The issues are inextricably intertwined with each other.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a back disability and bilateral knee disabilities, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation as of June 4, 2020. The Board granted the TDIU claim effective from that date.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is found to have proximately caused his right knee disability. Service connection for a right knee disability, diagnosed as strain and meniscal tear, has been granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis is being remanded due to the need for a new examination that complies with Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, including DJD of the knees and degenerative arthritis in both knees, as well as a meniscal tear in the right knee, were denied. The RO assigned separate disability ratings based on the specific conditions.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are necessary to properly evaluate the Veteran's right shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as his asthma. The claims for increased ratings remain on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including head condition, sleep disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, gastritis, cervical spine disability, numbness of upper extremities, knee disabilities, dizziness, arm disabilities, and skin condition. The issues are related to whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine condition and numbness of the left foot as secondary to residuals, fracture, left talus. The claim for service connection for left knee chondromalacia is remanded.,There is no clear evidence that the Veteran's left knee chondromalacia is related to his service-connected disabilities.