Knee Board decisions

Service connection is granted for tinnitus. The Veteran's service records show that he was exposed to noise during service and has reported hearing loss since then.,The claim for service connection for IHD based on herbicide exposure is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The left hip condition, right knee condition, and left knee condition are rated as noncompensable or 10 percent disabling, respectively. A separate noncompensable rating was granted for bilateral leg chronic exertional compartment syndrome.

The Veteran's right knee instability associated with his service-connected right knee PFPS is granted effective July 1, 2015, the day following his separation from active service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) was denied, and the request for an effective date prior to December 8, 2010 for service connection was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he did not file a timely VA Form 10182 within the required timeframe.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset and relation to service.,The Veteran's hepatitis C is remanded as the VA examiner did not provide adequate rationale for their opinion.,The Veteran's kidney disability, related to hepatitis C, is remanded due to an inaccurate factual premise in the previous opinion.,The Veteran's right hip disability is remanded because the VA examiner did not address whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.,The effective date for a 10 percent evaluation of the Veteran's right knee disability is remanded due to inadequate examination results.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of May 11, 1970 for service connection for left knee disability is granted. The Board also remanded the issues regarding higher ratings for right knee post traumatic osteoarthritis and instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a back condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition due to incomplete medical records and inadequate examination opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant VA and private medical records and schedule an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and lumbosacral strain, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied entitlement to increased ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia patella with degenerative arthritis, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5261.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied service connection for lumbar degenerative facet changes, bilateral hip strain, and degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees. The Veteran's inability to conceive was also denied.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

The Veteran's right knee scars are rated at a 10 percent effective April 28, 2014. The scars do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they are not deep or nonlinear and do not cause any functional limitations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and clarification of the severity of the Veteran's left spontaneous pneumothorax, as well as whether his COPD and right spontaneous pneumothorax are aggravated by his service-connected left spontaneous pneumothorax.

Service connection for a left knee disability is denied.,An evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with probable meniscus tear has been withdrawn.

The Board has remanded the claims for accrued benefits due to pending appeals and a potential one-year window for filing a Notice of Disagreement. The RO must adjudicate these claims on their merits.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims for bilateral knee disabilities and a scar of the left knee due to insufficient consideration of ankylosis of the knees, as well as inextricably intertwined issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and respiratory condition, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.