Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right hip disability is secondary to his service-connected left leg, left foot, and right knee disabilities. The VA needs to provide an updated opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip and knee conditions were granted in a January 2020 rating decision. The appeal regarding the timeliness of his March 5, 2014 VA Form 9 is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on regular need for aid and attendance is remanded due to the lack of adequate contemporaneous medical examinations. The Board finds that new VA examinations are needed to assess the current state of his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to perform activities of daily living.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, stomach, back, and neck disorders have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. However, his claims for these conditions remain denied as there is no current diagnosis or evidence linking any of these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development and examination. The claims for service connection for residuals of TBI, left ankle disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disability, left knee disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability are all being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee instability and sprain status post arthroscopy, as well as his claim for TDIU prior to April 6, 2017. Additional development is required to obtain medical records and income information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, varicose veins, and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The evidence did not show that any of these conditions had their onset in service or were related to service.,Service treatment records were silent for complaints or treatment of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to delays in scheduling VA examinations, and requests additional development of his medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis (OA), finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's diagnosed conditions are related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, sarcoidosis, bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral knee disorder, and a low back disorder due to his death.

The Veteran's right knee instability and degenerative changes are restored to a 10 percent rating, effective from September 19, 2016. The ratings for right knee instability and bilateral hearing loss remain remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional medical records and a new VA examination. The issues include service connection for various disabilities, including knee and cervical spine conditions, as well as neurological and migraine headaches, all potentially related to his service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right ankle sprain, right knee strain, and lumbar spine strain are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to address the presence of flare-ups and repetitive motion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's right knee condition is characterized by slight instability and limited extension, resulting in a separate compensable rating of 10 percent for lateral instability from May 9, 2014, to July 31, 2017. However, the Veteran does not meet criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome during this period. The Board finds a remand is necessary to determine the current severity of his condition after November 1, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back condition and left and right knee conditions, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his chronic vascular headaches with dizziness, loss of equilibrium, head pain, and neck pain has been denied as the highest schedular rating is already assigned.,The March 2009 decision denying service connection for Cushing's disease is final. The Veteran's new evidence received since then is considered sufficient to reopen his claim, but it does not provide a clear link between his current condition and his active service.,Service connection has been granted for the left foot disability (gout) and left elbow disability, both related to in-service injuries. Service connection for right knee disability is also granted.,The Veteran's hypertension needs further evaluation as VA treatment records since November 2015 have not been provided. The examiner should assess whether his current disabilities are aggravated by service-connected conditions.,Service connection for a right shoulder disability, left hip disability (arthritis of the fingers), and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development and examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, including whether any preexisting condition was aggravated by service.