Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and prostate disorder, but has remanded all issues due to need for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to perform the basic functions of self-care and are as helpless due to his service-connected conditions, necessitating regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's left knee disability has increased in severity since his last VA examination, and he needs to be re-evaluated. His claim for a higher rating is being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and vertigo.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including shrapnel wounds of the abdomen and right knee, TKA for his right knee, painful scars, ventral hernia, gunshot wounds to the thigh, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and a scar from his right knee replacement, prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to new evidence indicating that the Veteran's disabilities have worsened.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, each warranting staged ratings of no more than 20 percent prior to April 17, 2013; a combined (based on a formulation of 20 percent under Code 5258 and 10 percent under Code 5003) increased rating of 30 percent from April 17, 2013 to October 4, 2016: and a combined (40 percent under Code 5261 and 20 percent under Code 5258) increased rating of 50 percent from October 4, 2016. The Veteran's tinea of the right popliteal fossa is not shown to have been manifested by scarring or to have involved at least 5 percent of the total body or exposed areas or to have required intermittent systemic therapy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right knee disabilities due to incomplete development of records prior to 2009, inadequate examination findings, and need for further evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disability and service connection for a left knee disability, including as secondary to his service-connected right knee and right ankle.

The Board has determined that the claims for increased ratings for right knee arthritis and lateral instability of the right knee need to be remanded due to the need for a new VA examination, as well as the requirement for issuance of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to a TDIU prior to March 1, 2013 due to his voluntary retirement and inconsistent employment history.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and the need for further testing of the Veteran's knee condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for undifferentiated tissue disease (claimed as weak muscle tissue), fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis. The claims are remanded for further development including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various knee and hip disabilities, as well as a low back disability due to insufficient rationale in previous VA examination reports. The Veteran is required to undergo additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was restored to a 20 percent evaluation effective December 8, 2017. Service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting evidence and need for further examination. The issues include right knee disorder, headaches, right shoulder disorder, dizziness and fainting spells, low back disorder, and left leg shin splints.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees, ankles, shoulders, and wrists due to inadequate examination in a prior decision. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s diagnosed conditions are related to his active duty military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate examination reports. The VA examiner was not able to provide specific degrees of motion in each state and did not estimate the additional loss of range of motion upon flare-ups.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are rated at 20 percent each, with separate ratings of 10 percent for instability in the knees. The appeal is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.