Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left knee disability due to further evidentiary development being necessary.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including range of motion testing and an assessment of whether prior examinations were adequate. The issues include increased ratings for knee disabilities and referral for extraschedular consideration.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the current diagnoses and active service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee, hip and lumbar spine disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The examiner found no nexus between the claimed disabilities and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to determine if the Veteran's current lumbar strain is at least as likely as not caused by his in-service back strain.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates are denied and his claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his right knee disorder and to address any functional loss due to flare-ups or repetitive use. The effective date for the 10% rating remains October 10, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle disability and left knee disability, including as secondary to a right ankle condition due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected scoliosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, back disability, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim for tinnitus was granted as at least as likely as not related to noise exposure during service.

The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty from December 19, 2018 to December 19, 2019 is rated at 100 percent.

The Veteran's claim for left knee osteoarthritis and strain was denied in previous rating decisions, but granted on February 2, 2018. The Board found no basis to grant an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for headaches. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder due to lack of evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and military service.,The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was also denied as the proximate cause of his need for subsequent surgery was not found to be reasonably foreseeable or related to VA treatment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have started during service and has continued since then.,Service connection for bacterial sinusitis with rhinitis is granted, as the evidence is at least in equipoise that it began during service.,Right knee osteoarthritis is granted on reopening of a previously denied claim.,Migraine headaches are granted on reopening of a previously denied claim.,Bilateral pes planus with bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted on reopening of a previously denied claim.,Service connection for right ear hearing loss is established as the evidence supports its onset during service.,Cervical strain with degenerative joint disease is found to be related to service.,Lumbosacral strain with thoracolumbar spine osteoarthritis is found to be related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and his limitation of extension is separately rated at 10 percent. The right ear hearing loss disability has been granted, but the TDIU claim remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude substantially gainful employment beginning July 6, 2012. The Board has granted TDIU for this period.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran has instability in his right knee. The current ratings for surgical scars of both knees and DJD with loss of extension are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.