Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the Veteran's left knee condition. The claim will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The appeal for increased ratings on the lumbar spine disability is dismissed. The right knee and left knee disabilities, as well as the splenectomy and Lyme disease residuals, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee disability are being remanded due to the need for further development and evaluation.

The Veteran's right knee replacement was granted a 60 percent rating effective October 1, 2018.,A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability from December 1, 2019 has been granted.

The Veteran's right knee total replacement evaluation is remanded due to the lack of private treatment records from his May 2019 surgery.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,Separate issues regarding TDIU are also being remanded, with one related to a single service-connected disability other than chondromalacia of left knee from February 13, 2014 through March 31, 2015 for SMC purposes.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left-knee osteochondritis and degenerative joint disease were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and special monthly compensation based on anatomical loss of left testicle are granted effective July 2, 2010, the day following his separation from active service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal before the Board could make a decision on any of the issues raised.

The Board has determined that the September 2019 VA examination report is incomplete and requires additional medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus aggravates his right knee disability.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disability was denied, and his initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to February 18, 2020 and any rating in excess of 20 percent from that date onward were also denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right hip disabilities due to insufficient consideration of his reports of continuous symptoms since active duty service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding an earlier effective date for PTSD and denied his claims for increased ratings for knee disabilities. The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD in 2011, but did not timely file a notice of disagreement with the assigned effective date. His knees were found to have degenerative joint disease without ankylosis or additional symptoms due to removal of semilunar cartilage, and instability without ankylosis or additional symptoms.

The Board denied service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and low back disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and active military service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including initial compensable ratings for various conditions and service connection for a right knee disability. The AOJ is required to obtain updated VA treatment records, schedule new VA examinations, and issue an SSOC.

The Veteran's service-connected left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU for the period January 1, 2012 forward.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right knee replacement are currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not sufficient for the period from September 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete records from Prattville Primary Medicine Associates. The Veteran must be provided with authorization forms and notified of the consequences if he does not provide them.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's knee disorders did not begin in service and were unrelated to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability, including as secondary to his left knee disability, was denied. The Board found no medical evidence linking the current right knee DJD to service or service-connected conditions.