Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, conducting a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability, and addressing any issues related to service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left hip, right hip, and left knee, as well as herniated and bulging discs of the back due to conflicting opinions and lack of medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left and right knees due to insufficient development, including a need for additional medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain a VA examination and opinions regarding whether the Veteran's low back, right hip, and right knee disabilities are aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral pes planus and knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral pes planus is presumed to have existed prior to service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it was aggravated by service or related to his active duty. For any diagnosed left and right knee disabilities, the examiner must also assess whether they are proximately due to or aggravated by the bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for a higher initial disability rating for his left knee condition. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran should be granted TDIU prior to February 5, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis on a presumptive basis due to his in-service diagnosis of early degenerative arthritis.

The Board dismissed all claims for earlier effective dates prior to November 23, 1999 as the Veteran died during the appeal process.,No service connection was granted or denied in this decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding earlier effective dates for service connection of right and left knee osteoarthritis as the Veteran withdrew these issues. The initial disability ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis are remanded due to evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement disability is rated at a 60 percent since April 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability preexisted service and was aggravated by service, as well as whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for Meniere’s disease, sinusitis, right knee disability, and right hearing loss due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The other issues remain denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, low back condition, bilateral hearing loss, and right leg disability (formerly claimed as right knee disability). The appeals are granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that she is not so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and assistance from another person.

The Board denied service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and chronic depression as secondary to knee pain. The Veteran's knee conditions are not linked to active service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and that new evaluations are necessary for the Veteran's lumbosacral strain, right knee injuries, and left knee injury. The issues of increased ratings for these conditions have been remanded.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his lumbar spine disability is denied as there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.,Service connection for GERD was denied because the medical records do not show a diagnosis within one year of separation from service and there is no competent medical opinion linking it to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability due to its potential secondary relationship with his now service-connected right knee DJD. The case is returned for further development and an opinion on whether the left knee disability was caused or aggravated by the right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for limitation of extension of the left knee with degenerative joint disease and left knee laxity were denied because he failed to appear at scheduled VA examinations without providing good cause.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for the period on appeal.