Knee Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee disorders due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is rated at 10 percent, and from June 7, 2012 to September 3, 2019, he receives a separate 20 percent rating for his meniscal condition. The higher ratings are granted based on the severity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, right knee condition, and left knee condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were granted. For the period prior to May 1, 2014, his left knee was rated at 30 percent; from July 1, 2015, it was rated at 60 percent. For the period prior to August 21, 2012, his right knee was rated at 60 percent; from October 1, 2013, it was also rated at 60 percent.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted as he is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including painful motion and kneecap dislocation, is rated at 10 percent for the entire appeal period.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a right shoulder disorder, a right knee disorder, sleep apnea, and a skin disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by current evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased rating for chronic lumbar strain, service connection for arthritis of the right knee (secondary to his service-connected back disability), and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities. The claims are being remanded for additional development including new examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding functional impairment and history of knee instability during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The Board cannot adjudicate the merits of the claims as they are no longer in a valid state.

The Board has decided that the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability needs further examination and opinion due to an inadequate addendum from the VA examiner. The Veteran's testimony regarding his in-service injury and post-service pain is considered.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition has been remanded due to the lack of new and material evidence.,The request for an earlier effective date for PTSD is denied as there was no communication or submission of evidence from the Veteran indicating intent to apply for benefits prior to May 28, 2014.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been remanded due to a lack of examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder condition has been remanded due to a lack of examination and opinion regarding the etiology of his condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for GERD, left knee injury residuals, and degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of the right knee and for a compensable rating for right knee instability prior to March 9, 2018, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for left knee DJD with medial meniscal tear and patellofemoral pain syndrome and right knee DJD with medial meniscal tear and patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding the evidence against a nexus to service or service-connected conditions.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of service connection for hearing loss due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal. The issues of higher ratings for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disability and right wrist CTS, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as a nervous condition, depression, and anxiety is dismissed. The issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected tinnitus has been withdrawn. The claim of service connection for a disability claimed as sleep and dream disturbance is reopened. The issues of entitlement to ratings in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and osteoarthritis, right ear hearing loss, and lumbar strain myositis, central herniated nucleus pulposus at L4/L5 are remanded. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination for right knee patellofemoral syndrome. The Veteran needs a new VA examination that complies with Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016), and Sharp v. Shulkin, 29 Vet. App. 26 (2017).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and bilateral knee disabilities due to the need for VA examinations.