Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not render him helpless to the extent that he requires regular aid and attendance. The need for such assistance primarily stems from non-service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The conditions are deemed to have onset in service due to noise exposure during military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hip disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran is required to be rescheduled for these examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and left ankle disabilities due to lack of recent VA examinations, and new evidence has been added since the last decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorder and right elbow disorder due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral sinus disorder, a bilateral knee disorder, and skeletal arthritis due to lack of evidence demonstrating current disabilities or in-service events/diseases related to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of hepatitis, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been granted. The appeals to reopen these claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's 100% disability rating for right knee arthroplasty is maintained, but a 30% rating is granted effective from October 1, 2017. The case is remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination of his right knee.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's anxiety disorder is at least as likely as not proximately due to his service-connected disabilities or aggravated beyond its natural progression by service-connected disabilities. The initial rating claims for left knee degenerative changes and right knee scar are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records and an inadequate August 2018 VA examination report. The Veteran's right knee disability is being evaluated again for a complete picture of his condition.

The Veteran's left knee DJD and recurrent subluxation were granted a rating of 10 percent, but no more. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for an increased rating due to lack of incapacitating exacerbations or flexion limited to 30 degrees.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU rating. The cases of right heel spurs and left heel spurs are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome is granted as service-connected. The remaining issues (left ear hearing loss, bilateral foot disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's left knee is rated at 10 percent for instability and painful motion, while his light perception in the left eye remains at a 30 percent rating. The appeal does not involve any service connection based on exposure to specific hazards.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The Board also remanded the cases of increased rating for right knee strain with meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis, as well as a compensable disability rating for her right knee scar.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of various disabilities, including a left knee disability and its secondary effects on other joints and sleep condition, need further investigation. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical spine injury, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left knee condition, right knee condition, left foot condition (to include pes planus, plantar spurs, and fasciitis), right foot condition (to include pes planus, plantar spurs, and fasciitis), cervical radiculopathy of the left upper extremity, bilateral sciatic neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include anxiety and PTSD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates due to procedural issues and will be addressed in a later decision.

The Veteran's service-connected right ankle, right knee laxity, left knee laxity, right knee chronic strain, and left knee DJD disabilities have been evaluated as 20% for the right ankle disability, 10% each for right and left knee laxity, and 10% each for right and left knee chronic strain and DJD. The Board denied increased ratings for all of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development, including service connection for a lumbar spine disability and Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The evaluation in excess of 60 percent for right TKA and evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee DJD based on limitation of flexion are also remanded.