Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record, including a lack of STRs. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's left knee condition, including dislocation with frequent episodes of locking, pain and effusion, is rated at 20 percent effective July 10, 2014. The right knee disability secondary to the service-connected left hip disability has been referred for further review. Effective October 2, 2017, SMC was granted based on the Veteran's combined rating of 60 percent due to his additional disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disability, right knee disability, and right leg venous insufficiency due to inadequate opinions in the April 2019 VA examination. The Veteran's representative provided additional medical literature that may be considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical strain and right knee condition due to failure to appear for VA examinations. The Veteran is requested to provide updated medical evidence or attend the scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, effective December 11, 2019. The right ankle disability is granted with a rating of 20 percent. All other claims are denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities due to an inadequate addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether these conditions are secondary to a service-connected bilateral ankle disability. The Veteran is requested to provide additional evidence and authorize VA to obtain relevant records.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeals regarding service connection for a neck disorder, a higher initial rating for the headache disorder, and increased disability ratings for lumbosacral strain, right and left hip impairment, limitation of right and left hip flexion, and left knee painful flexion with arthritis. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and folliculitis, finding that there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's right knee instability and patellofemoral syndrome are currently rated at 10% each, with no higher ratings granted. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10% for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot disorders, right and left hip disorders, shoulders disorder, cervical and neck disorder, anxiety disorder, unspecified depressive disorder, osteoarthritis of lumbar joints, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, and hypertension due to outstanding medical records not being obtained.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, but granted service connection for a right knee disorder and bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection was denied for tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left total knee replacement was denied. The evidence did not show any worsening of the condition as of April 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a hydrocele, are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) of the left knee with tendonitis is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board denied increased ratings for various knee, shoulder, spine, and elbow disabilities. The Veteran's left ulnar nerve disability was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of issues related to service connection for bilateral hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran's claims are currently under review.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for left brachial thrombosis prior to October 1, 2019 and a rating in excess of 60 percent thereafter, and service connection for right knee disability. The Veteran will be scheduled for examinations to determine her current level of severity and etiology.

The Veteran's left knee strain is granted as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. The Veteran also receives a TDIU and DEA benefits due to his PTSD.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, diagnosed as arthrosis, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected pes planus.