Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded three issues: initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the right knee, and service connection for degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left knee. A new VA examination is required to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected hearing loss and to assess whether his DJD of the knees was caused by active service.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board has ordered a remand for further evaluation.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus was reduced from 50 percent to 30 percent, but the rating was restored.,The Veteran is found unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and receives a TDIU.,SMC based on loss of use of one or both feet is denied as there is no anatomical loss or loss of use of a hand due to service-connected disabilities.,SMC based on loss of use of the left hand is also denied.

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

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show limitation of motion or instability warranting a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection due to insufficient examination reports, conflicting evidence regarding severity of disabilities, and lack of discussion on changes in severity throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions and disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,No effective date is assigned as the appeal pertains to issues that have already been decided.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ankle condition that is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, finding that there is at least as much evidence supporting this relationship as against it.

The Veteran's tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.,Service connection for right and left knee disabilities is denied due to lack of current diagnoses or symptoms that meet VA criteria for disability.,The claim for service connection for a right elbow disability remains pending, with a need for additional medical examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's left knee condition, including patellofemoral pain syndrome and chronic MCL sprain, is being reviewed for service connection as secondary to his right knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, render him unemployable and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not occur during his active duty and there is no evidence of noise exposure that could have caused the condition.,Service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Veteran reported experiencing tinnitus since military service, but VA examiners determined it was less likely related to noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's representative withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection, including right elbow condition, low back disorder, bilateral knee disability, bilateral leg conditions, and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability caused or aggravated his right knee and back disorders.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee conditions have been reopened. The claim for a left foot condition is also remanded for further development.

A rating in excess of 30 percent for post TKR residuals prior to February 4, 2019 was denied. The Veteran's condition has been rated at 60 percent since that date.,An effective date of February 4, 2019 is granted for the assignment of a 60 percent rating for status post right TKR.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee arthritis and osteoarthritis need further medical evaluation to determine if they are related to service. The case is therefore REMANDED for this purpose.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional records and a VA opinion regarding whether any left knee condition had its onset during active service or is caused by in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the hips, knees, ankles, and feet have been granted. The Board has also remanded several other issues.