Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to issues with the rating assigned for the Veteran's left and right knee conditions, as well as a request for an extension of temporary total convalescence rating for his surgery. The claim for TDIU is also pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, to include as secondary to her service-connected chronic lumbar strain with degenerative disc disease (DDD), is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating prior to February 14, 2019 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter for major depressive disorder with adjustment disorder with anxious mood remains pending. A remand is needed to obtain private records relevant to her service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and determine the etiology of her current right knee disorder.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, to include as secondary to her service-connected chronic lumbar strain with DDD, is also pending. A remand is needed to provide an opinion regarding the etiology of her current right knee disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee condition and its relationship to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine, right leg/knee, right ankle, and right foot disabilities. The decision stated that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteophytes are each granted a 10% disability rating. The Veteran's lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome with degenerative arthritis is denied an initial rating in excess of 10%.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his knee condition has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability and bilateral knee disabilities due to failure of the Veteran to appear for VA examinations. The examinations will be rescheduled, and further development is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death by making him more susceptible to developing endocarditis, which was the principal cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine and left knee was denied as there is no evidence showing that his symptoms warranted a rating in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected left ankle disability. The rating for his left ankle disability is also being remanded for a more current VA examination.

The Board has found insufficient evidence of the Veteran's current right knee and ankle functioning to adjudicate his claims for higher evaluations at this time, and thus remands the matter for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for a 70 percent rating for PTSD from September 26, 2012 forward is granted. The effective date of the increased rating is March 7, 2014.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and right foot disorders. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as his request for a higher rating for right ankle disability. The decision also noted that these issues were remanded previously.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service treatment and personnel records are needed to properly adjudicate his claims. As these records have not been obtained, the Board is remanding the cases for further action.

The Veteran's claim for an initial 50 percent rating for migraines is granted. The Veteran also has other service-connected conditions, but the appeal does not address their effective dates or whether they are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral ankle and leg disabilities, finding that the symptoms were attributable to cellulitis and not a separate disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right knee, left knee, right leg, left leg, muscle disorder, eye disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, skin rash disability, chronic pain disorder, and neck disability. The decision also denied reopening of previously denied claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disability due to new and material evidence, but has remanded it for further development including obtaining inpatient records from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, VA treatment records, and private medical records. The case will be adjudicated based on whether the current left knee disability is related to active service.