Knee Board decisions

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's initial rating for TKA of the left knee was denied, but a 10 percent rating as of April 23, 2019, was granted for a tender scar. The Veteran also received an initial compensable rating prior to April 23, 2019, for a scar of the left knee.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right ankle, bilateral knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other issues.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been granted. The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and left ear hearing loss are also granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for various psychiatric conditions, diabetes, a right knee condition, and prostate cancer. The remand requires further development of evidence regarding the Veteran’s claimed stressors for PTSD, verification of his in-service exposure to carbon tetrachloride/toxic chemicals for prostate cancer, and an addendum opinion from the March 2019 VA examiner.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including left ankle, left knee, right hip, left hip, and right shoulder disabilities, as well as hypertension and sleep apnea.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service symptoms and treatment.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees have been granted at a 10 percent level since December 14, 2008. The appeal regarding higher disability ratings or entitlement to TDIU is still pending.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the low back, left shoulder impingement syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to have been incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain, tendonitis, and instability, left knee strain, tendonitis, and instability, tinnitus, left hand carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve neuropathy, right hand carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve neuropathy, and right shoulder strain.,The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to a lack of proper procedural steps taken by the RO in reducing the Veteran's rating for his lumbar spine disability. The issues on appeal include the reduction from 20 percent to 10 percent, as well as entitlement to higher ratings for both the lumbar spine and left knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection and assigned a noncompensable rating for the Veteran's bilateral knee arthralgia and chondromalacia, migraines, right great toe fracture, and denied service connection for hypothyroidism. The decision also remanded issues related to service connection for other conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether these conditions are related to service. The VA is directed to obtain an adequate opinion addressing the likelihood of a current knee disability being incurred in or caused by service, including the January 1959 incident.

The Veteran's right knee was rated at 10 percent prior to August 8, 2017 due to osteoarthritis and painful motion. A separate rating for instability is not warranted.,A 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage from August 8, 2017 to May 2, 2019 was granted based on the Veteran's testimony at his hearing.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased evaluations and TDIU due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received since the last final decision, which relates to a current disability and its onset during service. The Veteran's claim for service connection is now pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to new evidence and functional loss. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the rating claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and to ensure compliance with prior remand instructions. The case will be reviewed again after obtaining necessary medical opinions and treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities, including anxiety neurosis, left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and left knee instability. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations and additional evidence.