Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back disability, bilateral knee disability, joint disorder, and shin splints due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The issues of new and material evidence for hearing loss, back condition, bilateral knee condition, head trauma and scarring, and vision problem are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for updated VA treatment records and examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's disabilities.

The Veteran's back disability is rated at 20% from September 15, 2015 onwards.,The Veteran’s left hip extension, flexion, and abduction are each granted a 10% rating from February 1, 2018 onwards. The Veteran’s left hip flexion is also granted a 10% rating from February 1, 2018 onwards.,The Veteran's right knee disorder is rated at 10% and his left knee disorder is rated at 10%. Both are granted TDIU status.

The Veteran's service-connected GERD with hiatal hernia and post-operative residuals of right knee injury with degenerative changes are being remanded for further evaluation due to a claimed worsening of symptoms.

The Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty and left knee condition are currently rated at the lowest possible levels, and the Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a low back disability, arthralgic right knee, and right knee strain due to missing records and inadequate medical opinions. The claims will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD and left knee disability, as well as his claim for TDIU due to new evidence received after the July 2019 statement of the case.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disability, but granted service connection for low back, right knee, and right ankle disabilities. Service connection was also denied for bilateral hearing loss and thyroid disorder.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's low back disability, with reasonable doubt favoring the claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee condition/pain, right shoulder condition/pain, and right knee pain/condition due to insufficient medical opinions addressing all relevant evidence of record.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back pain, scoliosis, cervical spine arthritis, left arm lateral epicondylitis, knee bursitis, leg and hip conditions, restless leg syndrome, nosebleeds, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, dizziness, foot arthritis, bunions, osteoporosis, hypertension, heart condition, insomnia, sleep apnea, myofascial pain syndrome, eye pain/dryness, gynecological condition (uterine cysts/fibroids), breast cancer, depression secondary to breast cancer, jaw/teeth pain, and PTSD. The Board found no evidence of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and neck disabilities due to incomplete development. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date earlier than September 24, 2009, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus is dismissed. The Board also remanded issues regarding a higher evaluation for his left knee and extension of a temporary total disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to assess his left knee, right hip, and left hip conditions due to inadequate testing in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's right middle finger disability is granted an initial 10 percent rating, but no higher. The claims for left hand, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions. The claim for secondary service connection for a psychiatric disorder is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain with arthritis, right knee disability, and right leg disability has been remanded due to the need for additional development.,An effective date of December 28, 2004 is granted for the grant of service connection for lumbar strain with arthritis.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right hip and right knee disabilities as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability is granted. The issue of whether the right knee disability is related to his service-connected left knee disability is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for headaches, a right knee disorder, and a sleep disorder. The Veteran's claims were based on direct service connection rather than presumptive service connection due to exposure in the Southwest Asia theater of operations.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has precluded him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation since January 22, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU based on the PTSD disability. Additionally, the Veteran is entitled to SMC at the housebound rate due to his combined 100 percent schedular rating for service-connected disabilities.