Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a heart disorder, left knee disorders, and right knee disorders.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss was granted. Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied due to lack of new and material evidence. The Veteran's persistent depressive disorder with major depressive disorder is now rated at 70% from April 20, 2018 onwards.

The Veteran's low back, right knee, and right foot disabilities are being remanded for review of additional evidence. The acquired psychiatric disorder is also being remanded with a request to consider an initial rating in excess of 50 percent prior to March 23, 2019, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disorder and right knee disorder, as well as the claim for an increased rating for hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied service connection for a spine disorder and a left knee disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a TDIU prior to September 7, 2010 and increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities. The Veteran's claims are pending further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the examination for right knee disability, and the Veteran is required to undergo another VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for severe patellar dislocation starting from December 12, 2019. Prior to that date, his conditions were not rated higher.

The Veteran's right TKR, right knee scar, left TKR (secondary to now service-connected right knee disability), low back pain (diagnosed as degenerative disc changes) and right foot drop are all granted. The effective date for the grant of SMC based on loss of use of one hand is set at December 18, 2013.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of medical examination and incomplete records. The Veteran is asked to provide any relevant private treatment records, and a VA examination will be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of his spine disability, left knee disability, and bilateral foot disability.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to deficiencies in previous VA examinations and for a retrospective opinion on the severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, effective from the date of his death. The issue of entitlement to SMC on account of being housebound is considered moot due to the grant of the greater benefit.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a TDIU and DEA prior to October 13, 2015 due to issues being inextricably intertwined.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee condition, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the current disability and an in-service injury or event.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a low back disability and left knee disability due to additional development. The Veteran's right knee strain is already rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of her service-connected left knee disabilities were denied due to her failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Veteran was previously denied TDIU prior to January 25, 2018. Since then, his PTSD symptoms worsened significantly, making it impossible for him to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claims. The Board affirmed the denial of these claims in multiple decisions.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus to service or service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee degenerative arthritis was remanded due to the failure to consider recent VA-contracted examination results in the Supplemental Statement of the Case.