Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's lower back disability and associated radiculopathy have been granted increased initial ratings of 20 percent, effective January 22, 2018. Additional development is needed for other issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee and right ankle disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran is seeking higher initial ratings for his service-connected left knee and right ankle conditions.

The Board granted service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's in-service injury and post-service occupation contributed to his current condition.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is presumed to have been incurred in combat service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right elbow, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been denied. The VA examiners found that the Veteran’s range of motion did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU. The cases for increased disability ratings for right elbow, left elbow, left knee, and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee injury, back injury, neck injury, bilateral hip injury, and pelvis injury due to outstanding private treatment records and inadequate addendum opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new examination to assess his right knee and left knee disabilities. The claims are not currently resolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee instability and left knee limitation of flexion, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left above knee amputation, its relation to his service-connected residuals of left knee replacement, and whether he requires aid and attendance.

The Veteran's current right knee strain with arthritis is granted as service connected, related to an in-service injury during military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the medical opinion provided regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disorder. The Veteran is presumed sound at entrance, and the burden is on VA to prove that his condition was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for Reiter’s syndrome, left hip, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankles with hyperuricemia was denied. The disability is rated at 60 percent since December 19, 2010.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and tibia/fibula fractures are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for a left knee disability is being remanded due to unclear findings from the January 2020 VA examination. The case will be returned to the examiner for clarification of the reported limitation of extension.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure. However, his bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a disability under VA regulations.,The Board has found that there was no substantial compliance with prior remand directives regarding joint conditions and vertigo.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment prior to November 22, 2011. The decision grants a TDIU for this period.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary for additional development, including obtaining new VA examinations to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability and determining whether she qualifies for TDIU or SMC based on her service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and additional development is required.

The Veteran's total left knee replacement is rated at 30 percent from December 1, 2018. The evidence does not show chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5055.