Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for his right and left knee disorders due to inadequate consideration of his lay statements regarding constant knee pain, as well as the January 2014 VA opinion. The case is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for lumbar spine disorder, right and left ankle disorders, higher initial ratings for right and left knee disabilities, and a higher initial rating for residuals of a right inguinal hernia due to incomplete or inadequate examination reports.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the Veteran did not meet the schedular requirements for TDIU prior to May 1, 2013.

The Veteran's knee disabilities, including medial collateral ligament instability of the right knee and osteoarthritis of the left knee, are currently rated at 20 percent each. The Board denied increased ratings for these conditions as they do not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings based on limitation of motion or other manifestations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left knee strain, finding that there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and his period of active duty service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hand, hip, foot, knee, and shoulder disabilities as they are not related to his active duty service or a service-connected disability.,Service connection was denied because there is no evidence of any diagnosed condition in service, and the preponderance of the evidence does not support finding that these conditions were caused by or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of recent VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and granted restoration of the left knee calcification rating from 20% to 10%, effective December 1, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination and need for further development of the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for ischemic heart disease due to Agent Orange exposure is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the left knee, lumbar strain, and tinnitus are all dismissed as they were granted with a final effective date of December 1, 2015.,The claim for service connection for peripheral neuropathy due to Agent Orange exposure is denied because new and material evidence has not been received.

The Veteran's right and left sciatic nerve pain is not service-connected, as it is caused by his nonservice-connected degenerative disc disease and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine. The Veteran was employed prior to March 22, 2017, which precludes a TDIU at that time.

The Board has denied reopening of the claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for low back disability, stomach disability, skin rash, left hip disability, right hip disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on service-connected disabilities other than MDD with PTSD, and SMC based on housebound status since April 7, 2010.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to insufficient evidence and need for new examinations.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability due to new and material evidence, but remanded for further development.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities precluding substantially gainful employment.,Service connection for hearing loss is denied as the Veteran does not have a current disability in accordance with VA compensation criteria.

The Board denied service connection for cervical spine, left hip, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder disabilities as they were not incurred or aggravated during military service.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to service-connected chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis. The left knee disability, neck disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and gastrointestinal disorder are denied due to lack of current diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee condition and its relation to service, including herbicide exposure.