Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that he is still capable of sedentary work.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is granted as service-connected, and his right ankle disability remains at a 20% rating. The Board found the evidence in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's current knee disabilities are related to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a TDIU prior to December 28, 2015. The reasons include inadequate VA examinations and the need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip strain and degenerative joint disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee arthritis. The rating of 10 percent for left knee medial meniscus tear, status-post surgical repair, with degenerative joint disease is also granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic disease during or within one year after service and that any current knee disorders are not related to his service-connected lumbar spine degenerative joint disease. The claim is also denied on secondary basis as the VA examiner found that the knee disorders are less likely than not caused by or aggravated by the service-connected lumbar spine disorder.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a neck disability. The issues of entitlement to higher ratings for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine, and service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, right hip, left leg or knee, and right leg or knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a nerve disability was granted, and he was awarded service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, headache disability, and TDIU. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for the Veteran's left knee and thoracolumbar spine disabilities were inadequate, necessitating remand to provide further development.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his right knee disability have been denied. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination after April 1, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral elbow disability, hip disability, knee disability, shoulder disability, ankle disability, erythema nodosum, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and a bilateral arm disability has been denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence does not establish that any of these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's initial ratings for residual scar, right knee status-post arthroscopy and meniscectomy and right ankle strain have been granted. The rating for the right leg length discrepancy associated with right femur fracture remains at a non-compensable level.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for additional VA and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran's left knee disability is being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to conflicting medical evidence and the Veteran's statements regarding his claims. The issues of service connection for residuals of a left knee injury and right knee trauma are being reconsidered.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the aggravation of the left knee disability by the service-connected right knee disability is more likely than not.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a right knee disability due to incomplete development related to periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and Indefinite Non-Academic Duty Training (INACDUTRA).

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right and left ankle disorders as secondary to service-connected hip, thigh, or knee disorders due to procedural issues and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right ear hearing loss, a right knee disorder, and back disorder have been denied. The Board has found that the Veteran does not currently have these conditions.,Service connection for left knee disorder (osteoarthritic changes) is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis and left knee degenerative arthritis with a meniscal tear as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine with lumbar strain.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for right knee subluxation from 10 percent to 10 percent effective January 1, 2020, as the reduction was improper due to lack of improvement in the condition.