Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability. The Veteran is presumed sound at entrance into military service, and the examiner must disregard any evidence suggesting a preexisting condition prior to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining addendum opinions from medical professionals.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background, thus denying entitlement to a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings and increased ratings for his service-connected knee disabilities due to a lack of current findings from a VA examination conducted in August 2014.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection, including obtaining medical records and providing clarifying opinions from VA examiners.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, back condition, and right knee degenerative joint disease. The decision found that there was no current diagnosis of these conditions prior to death, and that any in-service injuries or exposures did not result in a chronic disability.

The Veteran's right hip flexion and extension have been granted initial 10% ratings, while the left hip strains and left knee strain remain denied.

The Board has denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, right knee, and both shoulders. The decision on the right knee is pending as it was remanded.,Service connection will be granted if the evidence demonstrates that a current disability resulted from an injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee, left shoulder, and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome due to the submission of additional evidence since the August 2016 SOC.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to incomplete examinations, lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination and further development is needed.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated at 30 percent, which covers both the limitation of extension and flexion. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted as his extension has not been shown to be limited to 30 degrees or more.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including post-operative arthritis and meniscal condition, was rated at 10% prior to February 6, 2014. A 60% rating is granted for his status post total right knee replacement from April 1, 2015 to September 23, 2018.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right ankle, low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran's disabilities are being requested to be evaluated again with a focus on whether they are related to service or secondary to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to missing service treatment records and lack of nexus opinions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's knee and back disorders, as well as his hypertension, are inextricably intertwined with his service connection claims. Therefore, these issues must be remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to incomplete VA examination reports and outstanding treatment records. The Veteran is also being considered for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, scar of the right knee, and bilateral tinnitus due to discrepancies in the record.,Service connection was denied for a scar of the right knee as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, right knee, and back disabilities, as well as his service connection claims for bilateral hip disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to consider new evidence from VA examinations in April 2018 and February 2020, and obtain a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hip disability.