Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives and the need for an updated medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates for the service-connected painful surgical scars on his lumbar spine, right knee, and lower neckline have been dismissed.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for cervical spine disability has also been dismissed.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of osteoarthritis of the right knee is granted. The Board has decided that a remand is necessary due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right-knee condition was caused or aggravated by his left-knee condition.

The Veteran's service connection for thyroid cancer is granted. The claim for SMC based on housebound status is denied.

This appeal of the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee conditions prior to and since specific dates is dismissed.,The Veteran withdrew his appeals for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee arthritis prior to December 5, 2017, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee laxity since December 5, 2017.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck condition, low back condition, left hip condition, right knee condition, memory problems, and cervical strain. The evidence does not support the presence of these conditions during the pendency of the claim.,There is no current diagnosis or qualifying pain documented in the medical records provided by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination and evaluation of his left knee patellofemoral syndrome with ACL sprain, as well as his left and right ankle conditions. The VA will obtain updated medical records and schedule the Veteran for an examination to assess the severity of his current disabilities.

The Board has remanded three issues: tinnitus, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The Veteran will need to provide information about his treatment providers and any relevant records. He may also need a new VA examination for his right knee and left knee disabilities, as well as an addendum medical opinion regarding his tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to ambiguity in the RO's response regarding a CUE motion, and the Veteran needs to file an SOC with regard to her appeals of CUE in prior rating decisions denying service connection for bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 60 percent, excepting the period from July 17, 2015 to October 31, 2015. A temporary total rating for convalescence following surgery was granted.,Service connection for right and left knee disabilities remains pending as additional evidence or examination is required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, including as secondary to a left knee disability. The case is being sent back for further development, specifically to obtain information about the Veteran’s periods of active duty and reserve service, and to schedule him for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected total left knee replacement disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left leg and right knee disorders have been granted, but the claims are still pending as they were reopened due to new evidence. The claim for a higher evaluation of right calcaneus fracture with loss of subtalar motion is also granted.,Service connection has not been established for either the left leg or right knee disorders.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee and left hip disabilities, finding no evidence to support a nexus between current conditions and service.

The Board has determined that additional efforts are needed to obtain the Veteran's current address and schedule him for VA examinations. The claims for increased ratings, service connection, and secondary service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's appeal includes requests for earlier effective dates for temporary total evaluations and SMC awards due to back surgery.,These issues are currently pending development.

The Board dismissed the appeals for increased ratings and service connection as they were withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the combined effects of his service-connected right knee disabilities, which prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment. The VA will refer the case for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee, right hip, and lumbar spine disorders. The Veteran's current tinnitus disorder is etiologically related to his second period of active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the Board has granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU).