Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, gout, migraine headaches, a left hand disorder, heartburn, a right foot disorder, and a left arm disorder. The appeals were not granted as the medical evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a diagnosis of PTSD related to in-service stressors.,Service connection was denied for left knee disability, right index finger disability, bilateral hearing loss, and skin disorder (claimed as left arm abscess).

The claim to reopen a previously denied service connection for right knee joint osteoarthritis is granted. The claim of secondary service connection for the right knee condition due to left knee disability is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and tinnitus, but has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional disabilities including posterior vitreous detachment (claimed as blurred vision), right knee disability, bilateral foot disability, head injury, brain disease due to trauma, left shoulder disability, prostatitis with semino-vesiculitis, upper right quadrant abdominal pain, and right shoulder disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disorder and initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for her right and left knee disabilities. The evidence did not show current diagnoses or functional impairment.,The Veteran was treated for pain in her feet during service, but no diagnosis was made. Post-service medical records also showed no diagnosed right foot condition.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for left knee degenerative joint disease with medial meniscus tear was granted, and he is now receiving the maximum schedular rating. The Veteran also received increased ratings for bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis and TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left knee chondromalacia disabilities have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings. The cervical spine disability was also denied, with a rating of 10% assigned from February 19, 2011 to May 29, 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient examination findings and incomplete consideration of the Veteran's claims. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and evaluation of his service-connected disabilities. The Board finds that there are no clear errors in the previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability (including strain and arthritis), left knee disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient examination findings and lack of nexus opinions.

The Board has remanded the claim for a rating greater than 10 percent for chronic left knee sprain due to insufficient information regarding the severity and frequency of flare-ups. The Veteran's symptoms include pain, weakness, fatigue, and decreased range of motion during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion and a separate 20 percent rating for instability. The temporary total disability rating following surgeries is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's left knee disability. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus have been denied as new and material evidence was not received. Service connection for a right knee disability is also denied. The issue of individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been dismissed.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent for the period prior to September 27, 2016 and 20 percent thereafter. A separate rating of 10 percent has been granted for limitation of flexion since February 27, 2019.,The Veteran's right knee disability is rated as 10 percent overall.,Compensation for scars on the left knee is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records, as well as further analysis of the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the service-connected bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as well as for a TDIU rating due to incomplete records from SSA and worker's compensation.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his back and right knee disabilities have been granted, with the back disability receiving a higher rating than the right knee.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including consideration of a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent since May 1, 2012. The Veteran’s left knee osteoarthritis was initially rated as 10 percent prior to August 14, 2012 and then increased to 40 percent between August 14, 2012 and August 8, 2017.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease.