Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's chronic degenerative arthritis of the right knee joint with limitation of extension is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's chronic degenerative arthritis of the right knee joint with instability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's residuals meniscal tear of the right knee is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with a previous remand order, specifically regarding an opinion on whether the Veteran's left knee disability was aggravated during service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, right knee disability, left knee disability, right elbow disability, and left elbow disability. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions at the time of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee or right leg disability, diabetes mellitus as due to herbicide exposure, diabetic neuropathy of the right upper and lower extremities, stroke, and erectile dysfunction are all remanded.,Specifically, the Board finds that there is a need to verify the Veteran’s reported service on a base in the Republic of Vietnam during his period of temporary duty (TDY) from March 24, 1967, to May 13, 1967.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee disorders, wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger disorders, stroke residuals, dizziness, and peroneal neuropathy. The case will be remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide addendum opinions from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims were partially granted and partially denied. He received a grant of an earlier effective date for his left knee instability rating and a grant of a 10 percent rating for that condition, but he did not receive a higher rating or an effective date before October 20, 2015.

The Veteran's previously denied claims of service connection for right shoulder disability, right-hand CTS, right knee disability, left knee disability, and PTSD have been reopened. The appeal is granted to this limited extent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including depressive disorder, right and left knee osteoarthritis, and left shoulder bursitis, rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since April 20, 2012. The Board granted the TDIU on an extraschedular basis effective from that date.

The Board has restored a 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability effective from October 1, 2015. The reduction was improper due to lack of material improvement in the condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and earlier effective dates have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following gainful employment consistent with his educational and occupational experience. The Board denied the claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis prior to May 2, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to his service, especially as it relates to his service-connected spina bifida occulta, S1, and arthritis and degenerative joint disease of the spine. A new medical opinion addressing aggravation is required.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate development and need for a new opinion regarding service connection for back disorder, which could impact hip and knee disorders.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Van Zandt VAMC and possibly a medical addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a left tibia fracture was denied, and his claim for service connection for left knee arthritis as secondary to the service-connected left tibia fracture was also denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability and denied entitlement to TDIU. The evidence did not show flexion limited to less than 30 degrees or extension limited to more than 10 degrees, which would warrant higher ratings.

The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities were evaluated, but the Board denied entitlement to higher ratings under various diagnostic codes. The decision did not address service connection or exposure basis.

The Board dismissed the appeals as they are moot due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability as there is no evidence of a diagnosed disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including degenerative joint disease, first occurred during his active service and is therefore granted service connection.