Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed. The appeal regarding the cervical spine disability is still pending as new and material evidence has not been received. Appeals for OSA, right hip, and right shoulder disabilities are remanded due to lack of medical opinion linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's request for a higher rating on his right knee disability and SMC based on aid and attendance is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient diagnoses and nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's knee/leg and ankle disabilities, which are related to service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 due to the death of the appellant, as the claim is moot.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: evaluating right knee disability, evaluating limitation of extension of the right knee, and determining service connection for bilateral hallux valgus. The Veteran will need new VA examinations for these matters.

The Veteran's claim for a 60 percent rating for bladder dysfunction is denied as the earliest date entitlement became factually ascertainable was December 22, 2009. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to December 22, 2009 is also denied due to his ability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on limitation of motion, instability or subluxation, or dislocated semilunar cartilage.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee DJD, status post right knee replacement from October 17, 2009 to April 1, 2016 because the disability was severed due to a prior grant of service connection.

The Board has ordered further remand for the Veteran to be examined and updated records obtained, as the prior examinations did not comply with the requirements set forth in Correia v. McDonald and Sharp v. Shulkin.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder as the evidence did not show it was incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence is rated at 40 percent from February 10, 2014 to June 3, 2018. The rating reduction for his left knee disability was improper and restored the prior rating.

The Board has denied the claims of service connection for right knee, left knee, and back disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Veteran's initial higher ratings for his right knee and left ankle disabilities were denied. The case was remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left foot and bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete VA examinations. Further examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for painful limitation of motion of the left knee, painful limitation of motion of the right knee, and osteoarthrosis of the right hip.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with prior remand instructions and to ensure that due process is met. The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions need further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, left hip, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran was granted SMC based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's bilateral knee instability is not rated higher than 10 percent at any time during the appeal period.,The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis prior to March 1, 2012 and prior to March 4, 2013 are not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal of the rating for his left knee disability is remanded due to insufficient response time and potential AMA opt-in issues.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, nut allergy, and denied service connection for allergic rhinitis with induced asthma.

The Veteran's left and right shoulder strain disabilities have been rated at the minimum compensable level (20%) due to their limitation of motion. The Veteran's left knee instability has also been rated at the minimum compensable level (10%).