Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar strain, left knee degenerative joint disease (left knee disability), PTSD, migraine headaches, cervical spine disability, left leg shin splints, right leg shin splints, bilateral hearing loss, and TBI have been granted service connection.,An initial rating of 40 percent for traumatic brain injury (TBI) has also been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete VA treatment records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant medical records and readjudicate the cases.

The Board has remanded two issues: service connection for a right hamstring tear and service connection for a scar on the right knee. The Veteran's claims are being reviewed due to new evidence and testimony.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for initial review of additional records by the AOJ.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing a link between his current knee and back disorders and his military service.

The Veteran's heart disability, including his pacemaker implantation and atrial fibrillation, is being remanded for a medical opinion to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused by or related to service-connected PTSD medications. The left knee condition is also being remanded for a medical opinion to determine if it is at least as likely as not secondary to his right knee disability.,reasoning_summary

Your appeals for left and right knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board granted an earlier effective date for service connection of left knee strain and instability from June 24, 2008. Attorney fees in the amount of 20% of past-due benefits awarded are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee and left ankle disabilities, finding that these conditions were incurred during her active military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his lumbar spine and right knee conditions has been denied.,For the period prior to December 7, 2016, the Veteran is already receiving a 10 percent rating. For the period from December 7, 2016 through December 20, 2019, he is rated at 20 percent. From December 20, 2019 to present, his condition warrants no more than a 40 percent rating.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability under DC 5258 and a separate rating of 10 percent under DC 5257. The decision is based on frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records from the Puerto Rico State Insurance Fund. The Veteran is required to provide authorization and VA will request their medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed for the Veteran's left knee conditions and remanded the case due to procedural issues with his TDIU claim. The right knee replacement cases have been remanded as well.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and failure to consider functional loss during flare-ups. The Veteran is required to be afforded a new VA examination for his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is aggravated by her service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his service or secondary to his service-connected residuals of a right distal femur stress fracture.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the evidence did not support such an increase.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for left knee, bilateral hearing loss, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities have been granted. The claim for diabetes mellitus has been denied.,The Veteran's hypertension and erectile dysfunction claims are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, meniscal tear, and status post medial femoral condyle fracture is rated at 20 percent. A separate 10 percent rating for instability is granted.