Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right knee strain is denied. The claims for increased ratings of other specified anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with intervertebral disc syndrome (IDVS) and degenerative arthritis status post lumbar laminectomy/discectomy, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity are all denied. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to July 30, 2015 is also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service and therefore denied her claim. The right knee and foot disability ratings are remanded for further evaluation, as well as a new examination of the residual surgical scars on the right ankle.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted them as to lumbosacral spine, neck, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities. The remaining claim of service connection for bilateral eye condition is still pending.

The Veteran's appeal of the issues related to bilateral calf and lower leg condition and haircut bumps on the back of the neck has been withdrawn.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, right hand middle and little finger condition, left hand index and middle finger condition, and right knee condition is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as compensable, and the Board finds no current disability for other claimed conditions.,The Veteran does not have a service-connected gall bladder removal or its residuals. The VA examiner found no symptoms associated with his gall bladder removal.,There is no evidence of a current right shoulder disability during the appeal period.,There is no evidence of a current left shoulder disability during the appeal period.,There is no evidence of a current left ankle disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran does not have a service-connected right knee disability during the appeal period.,The Veteran does not have a service-connected left knee disability during the appeal period.,There is no evidence of a current lumbar spine disability during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's left knee status post arthoplasty. The Veteran is seeking increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disabilities, but the Board finds that a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted for his degenerative arthritis and a separate rating of 30 percent is warranted for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability prior to June 10, 2016. The Veteran's status post arthoplasty is rated at 30 percent.

The Board has denied service connection for kidney disease and gum disease, and has remanded the claims for degenerative arthritis of the right knee, shortening of the right leg, carpal tunnel syndrome of the right hand and wrist, and arthritis of the right wrist.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the Veteran's failure to report for VA examinations and unclear notification of examination schedules.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee osteoarthritis disabilities, finding that the evidence does not demonstrate limitation of motion or instability sufficient to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for status post left great toe implant is granted at a 30 percent level. The Veteran's right knee disability, secondary to aseptic loosening of the tibial component, is also granted an initial rating of 30 percent from specific dates.

The Veteran's left knee disorder was initially rated at 20 percent prior to November 28, 2016 and then increased to 30 percent from January 1, 2018. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflect his symptoms.,For a scar of the left knee, no compensable rating was assigned as there is no tenderness, pain, or limitation of function.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's disabilities are related to his service-connected right foot disability, but the extent of any secondary relationship is unclear.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between his current diagnoses and military service.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss was denied. The Board also remanded the cases of left ear hearing loss, left knee strain, and right knee strain.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for UTI and GERD have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeals. The Board has also remanded cases regarding bilateral knee disability and left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various knee and ankle disabilities, as well as left ear hearing loss. The claims are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities on the basis of secondary aggravation by a service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate consideration of lay evidence regarding continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current foot and knee disabilities are related to his service. The VA will need to schedule examinations for the Veteran to determine if his conditions were incurred in or caused by service.