Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee chondromalacia and instability, as well as a TDIU prior to April 7, 2015, were denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect the severity of the Veteran's symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board has remanded his claims for service connection of back and knee disorders due to insufficient evidence. The current rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement and left total knee replacement have been granted a rating of 60 percent, effective as of August 1, 2013 for the right knee and August 1, 2012 for the left knee.,Both knees are rated under Diagnostic Code 5055 due to prosthetic replacements.

The Board dismissed the claim of service connection for dementia and remanded claims for a seizure disability, imbalance, psychiatric disability, and bilateral knee disability. The Veteran's seizure disability is being remanded due to incomplete records.

The Veteran's effective date for a 60 percent disability rating for total left knee replacement is set at April 9, 2011. This decision grants the Veteran an earlier effective date based on evidence of increased severity in his service-connected condition prior to his claim.

The Board has remanded the cases due to errors in their previous decisions, including not considering whether the Veteran's headaches are related to his service and left ear surgery. The Veteran is required to be examined for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left knee sprain and degenerative joint disease, to include ACL tear, status-post arthroscopy, as well as for his left knee medial meniscal tear. The claim for a separate rating for left knee instability was granted with a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board also remanded the issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee disability. The case is remanded for further development and readjudication, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and arranging for an orthopedic examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current left knee disability. The secondary service connection claims for bilateral hip disabilities and carotid artery aneurysm are also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disorder, and a left knee disorder have been denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology. The Board found that the current disorders are not related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for psychiatric disability, right shoulder and knee disabilities, sleep apnea, hernia, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The AOJ is instructed to obtain SSA records, request VA examination reports, and adjudicate TDIU.

The Board has withdrawn the appeal for TDIU due to notification from the Veteran. The cases of increased ratings for low back and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and prostate cancer, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 23, 2018. However, the Board notes that there is no verification of his work history, so further development is needed to determine his employment status.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records.,An effective date prior to January 2, 2016, is denied for all awards of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability related to his military service. The Board also found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.,Service connection was also denied for COPD, as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, right foot, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to a lack of in-service diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's representative did not provide specific arguments.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neurobehavioral condition and bilateral knee condition are not service-connected due to lack of evidence. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeals regarding his bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability are being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and inadequate medical opinions. The AOJ is required to obtain relevant medical records from military hospitals in Germany, as well as VA treatment records. A new VA opinion is needed to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding post-service treatment and symptoms.