Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability, which is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The case must be returned for a new VA examination and opinion that addresses whether the right hip disability was proximately due to or aggravated by the left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about the competency of the VA examiner who conducted a recent examination. The Veteran's representative argues that the examiner was not qualified to provide an opinion on orthopedic disorders and requests additional information.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right thumb, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70% rating effective July 28, 2008. The Veteran's left knee and right knee replacements are each granted a 60% rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to February 19, 2016, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right knee condition increased in severity beyond its natural progression during service, and therefore grants service connection for a right knee condition.

The Board has determined that further examination and consideration are necessary to determine the current severity of the Veteran's shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as his entitlement to earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits. The claims will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to obtain recent VA treatment records and conduct current VA examinations regarding his service-connected disabilities. The issues of increased ratings for various conditions are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, low back, and right shoulder disabilities due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection. Additional development is needed including obtaining STRs and providing addendum opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are to be evaluated further.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the right knee unicondylar revision arthroplasty from February 17, 2017 to February 22, 2018. The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 40 percent effective December 6, 2019. The TDIU claim has been remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee lateral instability and degenerative joint disease, as well as his TDIU claim prior to September 24, 2012. The VA must obtain updated treatment records from various VAMCs and provide notice of any inability to obtain these records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back disability and bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in previous VA examinations.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee disability should be rated at a higher level of severity prior to March 7, 2011, and at 20 percent thereafter. The claim is being remanded for further review based on additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of PTSD and service connection for OSA, chronic left knee disorder, and chronic right knee disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD or service connection for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a rating of 70 percent effective from December 28, 2015. The Board also granted TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for a right knee condition, finding no current indication of a causal association between the Veteran's right knee condition and his military service.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to July 25, 2014 due to his service-connected disabilities that rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of other potentially applicable diagnostic codes.