Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of left knee disability as secondary to a service-connected left ankle disability, but denied the underlying merits of the claim. The Veteran is also seeking an increased rating for his chronic tension headaches.,The appeal is mixed as some issues were granted and others are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen his claim of service connection for a left knee disability is granted. The claims for psychiatric, right and left CTS, cervical spine, and low back disabilities are remanded due to the need for additional evidence or examination.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for increased ratings related to left rotator cuff repair, left knee extension, left knee flexion, and left knee instability as these claims have been fully resolved in a previous decision.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development due to new information provided by the Veteran, including medical articles supporting his claims. An independent medical opinion is needed from a non-VA specialist in orthopedics.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him limited to marginal employment, and therefore unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment. A TDIU is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), hypertension, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, erectile dysfunction (secondary to an acquired psychiatric disability), left knee disability, and right hip disability. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, secondary to his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis, is being remanded due to the need for further development. His claim for an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation, thus his claim for TDIU was denied.

The Veteran's right knee DJD has been granted a 40 percent rating from December 15, 2011 for limited range of extension due to pain and swelling.,A separate 10 percent rating is granted for right knee instability since January 31, 2007. The Veteran's left knee semilunar cartilage condition has been granted a 20 percent rating from December 21, 2006 with slight instability.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine. The Board also remanded for further development regarding service connection for other conditions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2018 VA examination. The case will be returned for an updated evaluation and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee condition, irregular heartbeat, and hypertension due to potential relationships with the Veteran's right knee disability. The claims will be further evaluated after a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability had its onset in service and continued since then, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee arthritis and instability due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical records, undergo a VA examination, and report for any scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's lumbar disc degeneration and spondylosis, right knee strain, left knee strain, and left foot tendonitis are all granted as service-connected. The Board also found that the Veteran has a current cervical spine disorder related to service but did not assign a rating due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 20 percent for a cervical spine strain with DJD, DDD, and right hand radiculopathy has been granted. The appeal is also granted to reopen the previously denied claim of service connection for sciatica of the right lower extremity.

The Veteran's right hip disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension has been granted. The appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification on functional loss during repetitive use and flare-ups.,The Veteran's left knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating with no further action required. The appeal is remanded as an addendum opinion is needed regarding functional impairment due to flare-ups.,The Veteran's right knee disability continues to be rated at 10 percent, but the appeal is remanded for clarification on functional loss during repetitive use and flare-ups.,The Veteran's low back disability remains at a 10 percent rating prior to June 19, 2018, and as 20 percent thereafter. The appeal is remanded due to an addendum opinion needed regarding functional impairment due to flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete examinations and the need for additional medical records. The issues of service connection are being reviewed, as well as initial disability ratings.

The Veteran withdrew all of his claims, including those related to service connection for various disabilities and initial ratings.