Knee Board decisions

The appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety and depression is dismissed. Service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and back disorder are denied. Service connection for dermatophytosis of the left foot and right foot is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his left and right knee DJD, finding that the current 10% ratings adequately reflect the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the kidney disability claim remains denied. The right knee and stroke disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including chloracne, hyperhidrosis, fibromyalgia, bilateral knee disability, lumbar spine disability, nasal disability (chronic nose bleeds), and eye disability (blurred vision). The reasons given were that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service or any presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left knee strain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to his military service.,Service connection is granted for left knee strain, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability and right knee condition have been granted.,However, the decision is mixed as both conditions were found to be preexisting and not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's hypertension, lumbar spine disorder, and left knee arthritis were not found to be service-connected.,His seizure disorder was rated at 10 percent but the Board did not find it disabling enough for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings, effective dates, and service connection were denied. The decision also found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, SMC based on need for aid and attendance, and SMC based on housebound status. The issues are inextricably intertwined due to the potential impact on the diabetes mellitus claim.

The Veteran's CAD and right knee replacement are currently rated at 60 percent, but the Board denied any increase in ratings for these conditions prior to January 4, 2016, and from September 1, 2016, to November 17, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his right hip and right knee disabilities.,The Board finds that further development, including a new VA examination by an examiner other than the one who conducted the December 2019 examination, is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right hip and right knee conditions.

The Veteran's disability ratings for left knee instability and loss of extension prior to February 10, 2016 are denied. Ratings greater than 60 percent thereafter for left total knee arthroplasty are also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, but has remanded the issue of secondary service connection for a right hip disability due to lack of medical documentation during active service.

The Veteran's appeal for right knee disability is dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the issue. The Board has remanded several other issues including peripheral neuropathy, respiratory disability, sleep apnea, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, skin disability (PFB), bilateral kidney disability, hearing loss, insomnia, depression, erectile dysfunction, and eye conditions.

The Veteran's right knee retropatellar pain syndrome was rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under DCs 5260 or 5261.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for conjunctivitis was denied as there is no evidence of current chronic conjunctivitis.,Service connection for a right knee disability was remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disability, including on an extraschedular basis, as it is inextricably intertwined with the claim of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and audiogram results.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding gait instability caused by his service-connected back disability.