Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria and there is no evidence of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.,There is no clear and unmistakable evidence showing a pre-existing condition of the Veteran's knees or ears was aggravated by service.

The appeal as to PTSD is dismissed because it was granted in a January 2020 rating decision. The back and left knee disability appeals are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing Social Security Administration records and military personnel records, which could provide evidence of service connection or higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for a disability rating of 60 percent for left knee status post total knee replacement is granted effective January 5, 2016.,The appeals on service connection for cervical spine condition and increased rating for nerve damage, lateral surface of the distal left lower leg, saphenous nerve are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bilateral hearing loss disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hemorrhoids, microscopic hematuria, obesity/weight gain, bilateral knee disability, hypothyroidism and nodular disease, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, and kidney disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not establish a causal link between these conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for osteochondritis dessicans of the left knee due to additional development being required, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding whether the Veteran's preexisting condition was aggravated by his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a deviated septum and right knee disorder, finding that there is no current disability related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for COPD, multiple joint disabilities, and other service connection issues due to inadequate etiology opinions provided by VA examiners. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's left knee and right knee degenerative joint diseases were rated at 10% prior to the specified dates, but denied increased ratings.,PTSD was rated at 30% prior to August 26, 2016, and denied an increase in rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronic arthritis in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that the current diagnosis of arthritis did not stem from herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's RLE radiculopathy is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has remanded the issue of whether it warrants a higher rating. The claim for service connection for a hip or knee disorder secondary to service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for gastrointestinal symptoms due to Gulf War Syndrome has been dismissed.,Service connection has been granted for a right knee condition and bilateral wrist tendonitis.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling for retro-patellar pain syndrome and the left knee instability is rated at 10 percent. The Veteran seeks higher ratings.,The Veteran’s left knee meniscus disability has been granted a separate evaluation of 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of left knee injury with relaxed lateral collateral ligaments and chondromalacia of the left knee with limited motion were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, and back disorder due to incomplete medical records. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to obtain these records and then schedule VA examinations if necessary.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral hearing loss are being remanded due to incomplete development.,An effective date earlier than September 24, 2014 for the award of sleep apnea is denied.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is productive of painful, but otherwise noncompensable motion. The Board denied an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for the service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for osteochondritis dissecans of both knees due to a failure to obtain VA medical records from Montrose, New York.