Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to an initial increased rating for his right knee disorder and a separate compensable rating for right knee instability due to new evidence suggesting worsening symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate previous examinations. The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran was granted service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, herpes simplex, insomnia and nightmare disorder, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, etc., effective August 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions regarding whether the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be reviewed again with new VA opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for pes cavus, hammertoes, low back disorder (DDD of the lumbar spine), and bilateral knee disabilities due to the need for clarification regarding whether these conditions are related to service or if they were aggravated by a pre-existing condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left knee chondromalacia as they require further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his knee disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current condition and her military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating based on convalescence following right knee surgery because the condition that required the surgery (right fibula chondromyxoid fibroma) was not service-connected.

The Veteran's left knee disability, specifically degenerative joint disease, has been rated at 30 percent since February 20, 2009. The Board found that the current rating adequately reflects his condition as of January 2, 2004, with total knee replacement and associated limitations.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a scar residual of a left arm vaccination is granted. The right wrist disability and tinnitus cases are denied, with the right wrist case being remanded due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection for a right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss remains pending as additional examination and medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was previously remanded, and the Board finds that he should be given one more opportunity to complete the required VA Form 21-8940. If still not meeting schedular requirements, his case will be submitted to the Director of Compensation for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left total knee arthroplasty due to inadequate examination findings and the need for further development.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal tear disability is rated at 20 percent under the schedular criteria. The Board has granted an additional 10 percent rating on an extraschedular basis, bringing the total to 30 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to inadequate examination opinions and failure to address relevant evidence. The Veteran's claims for left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities, as new and material evidence was received. The cases are now remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the Veteran's arthritis disabilities are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and bilateral first cuneiform metatarsal joint arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for an upper back disability and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are at least as likely as not incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral knee and neck disabilities, right ankle disability, insomnia (claimed as secondary to psychiatric disorder and tinnitus), low back disability, penile disability, and sciatica. Additional VA examinations are needed to address the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD, a right knee condition, a back condition, and a right ankle condition has been granted. The appeal to reopen the PTSD claim is also granted. Service connection is established for PTSD based on personal assault allegations. The appeals for the right knee, back, and right ankle conditions are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his service, and therefore, denied his claims for service connection for bilateral foot pain, right knee condition, and right-hand injury.