Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the current nature and severity of the Veteran's right knee disability. The issues are related to the rating assigned for his service-connected right total knee replacement.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee and hip disabilities, including a rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis, an earlier effective date for increased ratings, and evaluations for surgical scars. The TDIU issue is also being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability (strain and osteoarthritis) due to new evidence received since the September 2015 rating decision. The case is remanded for further development, including an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a link between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and initial disability rating was denied. The right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage (meniscus impairment). A separate 20 percent rating has been assigned for recurrent subluxation and lateral instability since April 2018.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability prior to November 2016, and for obtaining any outstanding records from Dr. Monmouth.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and service connection for a sleep disorder due to potential inconsistencies in VA examination reports and incomplete medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions, and a new opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder began during service or is otherwise related to his service.

The Board has dismissed the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left big toe disability. The Veteran's low back and hip disabilities are granted, but the knee and shoulder disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis prior to February 17, 2016 did not warrant an evaluation higher than 10 percent due to limitation of motion.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination opinions. The Veteran's lay statements indicate that his symptoms began during or shortly after service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for an addendum opinion regarding service connection for right knee conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected left inguinal hernia residuals do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Veteran’s hernia scar does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.,Service connection was denied for bilateral shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee disorders due to lack of evidence supporting their existence or causation by service.,Service connection was denied for left ear hearing loss as there is no evidence of current disability meeting VA's definition of hearing loss.,Service connection was denied for tinnitus as the Veteran did not report having it during his STRs and medical records.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left knee disability, as well as his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU based on coronary artery disease and other disabilities, have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service, including his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and further evidence is needed.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its prior remand and thus the appeal must be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings of his right knee, cervical muscle sprain, chronic lower back strain with degenerative joint disease at L5-S1 (lumbar spine disability), and right shoulder strain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the current severity of each disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of all pending claims.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to February 10, 2020, and in excess of 40 percent from February 10, 2020 for a low back disability.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the period prior to February 10, 2020 for GERD.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for the period from February 10, 2020 for IBS and GERD.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for retropatellar pain syndrome of the right knee.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for retropatellar pain syndrome of the left knee.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a compensable disability rating prior to February 10, 2020, and a rating in excess of 10 percent from February 10, 2020 for a left ankle disability.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding a compensable disability rating prior to February 10, 2020, and a rating in excess of 10 percent from February 10, 2020 for a left wrist ganglion.,The Veteran's petition to reopen service connection for right shoulder disability based on new and material evidence has been dismissed.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and adjustment disorder.,The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal regarding service connection for a neck disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, his claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied as he does not meet the VA standards for a current disability.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, elbow disorder, wrist disorder, hip disorder, knee disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder (other than right ankle sprain), shoulder disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been remanded due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and service.,The Veteran's claim for a cervical spine disorder has also been remanded as no VA examination addressing the direct or secondary theory of entitlement was conducted.,His claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for shin splints, left leg and right leg have been remanded.