Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a shrapnel wound, left knee condition, right elbow condition, and left elbow condition due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis and lateral instability, is rated at 40%.,The Veteran also received a separate rating of 10% for limitation of flexion from October 27, 2009.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and hip disabilities, as well as a right elbow disability. The reasons include needing to verify all periods of active service, obtaining missing DD-214s, and requesting additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disorder, low back disorder, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and skin disorder due to concerns about the adequacy of the medical opinions provided. The VA is instructed to obtain a new opinion from a clinician regarding whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, degenerative disc disease and spondylosis of the thoracolumbar spine, arthritis of the left knee, radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the lower extremities, and residual scarring from salivary gland surgery have all been denied. The effective dates for service connection grants are also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The issues of entitlement to service connection for degenerative disc disease, spinal spondylitis, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) remain on appeal.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent, effective from April 1, 2017. The Board denied a higher rating for the period prior to July 31, 2007 and from July 31, 2007 to January 31, 2016.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for prostate condition, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and left knee disability. The claim for residuals of head injury is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions have been granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The lower back disability issue is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected conditions and obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to assess the severity of his left shoulder and right knee disabilities, as well as for a determination on increased SMC. The claims for increased ratings remain on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and hypertension. The decision found that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and that the current disabilities were not related to service.

The Veteran's SMC claim is remanded as the VA has not conducted an examination to determine his daily personal assistance needs attributable solely to his service-connected disabilities. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for initial compensable ratings for scar, left knee status post meniscus repair and onychomycosis, bilateral great toes as they are no longer relevant due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to missing VA examinations and other procedural issues.

The Veteran's left knee ankylosis is rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 5256, and a higher evaluation for his other conditions is denied.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are granted with a 10% rating each, effective prior to March 29, 2019.

The Veteran's hearing loss disabilities in both ears and low back disability are granted. The right knee disability is remanded for further development.