Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient examination reports and incomplete records, particularly regarding the Veteran's military personnel records and VA treatment records from the Chattanooga VA clinic. The issues of service connection for knee conditions and heart condition are being reviewed again.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional records related to his in-service assault on a Military Policeman. The issues of service connection and TDIU are also being addressed as they are interrelated with the threshold matter concerning the character of discharge.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions due to a lack of examination. The Veteran's current disabilities are currently present, but an in-person examination is needed to determine their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disability and back condition, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee replacement warrants a minimum 30 percent rating. A higher rating is not warranted as he does not have ankylosis, limitation of extension of the knee, or impairment of the tibia and fibula.,The criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for deep vein thrombosis have not been met as the disability resolved prior to the filing of the appeal.,The Veteran's heart disability is remanded for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for painful limited flexion, and a separate 20 percent rating is granted for instability/subluxation. The right knee disabilities are also rated at 10 percent each.

The Veteran's PTSD with PDD resulted in occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent rating from March 6, 2012 through June 11, 2019. The TDIU issue prior to June 12, 2019 was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to April 21, 2009 for service connection of left knee disability and left knee DJD status post total knee replacement are denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim for these conditions prior to that date.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hip, left knee torn anterior cruciate ligament, left knee degenerative joint disease with painful motion, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claims for migraine headaches, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and insomnia), GERD, tinnitus, bilateral shoulder pain, low back pain, left knee pain, a right knee disorder, and a bilateral foot disorder are all remanded.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 10 percent rating for low back syndrome, as the Veteran's claim was filed within one year of his discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence since the last decision.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional records, specifically SSA disability records and private treatment records from a back surgery at Nevada Spine Institute.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, back strain, bilateral knee injuries, and bilateral ankle injuries due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for service-connected degenerative arthritis, right knee, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to evaluate his current level of severity for these disabilities. If denied, the case should be returned to the Board.

The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance and special monthly pension benefits were denied as he does not meet the criteria for these benefits due to his service-connected left knee arthritis.