Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back and right knee disabilities due to potential issues with the examination reports and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, low back disability, and degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder are all granted with initial ratings.,Specifically, the Veteran is now rated at 40% for his service-connected radiculopathy of the left and right lower extremities effective March 15, 2018. His service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right knee is also rated at 20% effective March 15, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his right knee disabilities since March 15, 2006 were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on either limited extension or instability.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and osteoarthritis of the right knee, hypertension, and hemorrhoids due to incomplete medical records and lack of nexus opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, diagnosed as degenerative joint disease, is granted. The issues of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran is granted a clothing allowance for the 2017 calendar year due to his right knee ankle foot orthosis (KAFO) which tends to wear and tear his clothing.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic left knee disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and active service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Veteran's left knee strain with posttraumatic degenerative joint disease is currently rated at 10 percent effective July 14, 2016.,A separate rating for limitation of flexion is provided as of that date.

The claim for service connection for a right knee disability is reopened and remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an adequate opinion concerning the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has dismissed the claim of an increased rating for hypertension and denied service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome. The claims for service connection for a left knee condition and a right knee condition are remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to outstanding VA treatment records and the Veteran's testimony of increased severity since a previous examination. The case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's right knee instability and degenerative joint disease are rated at 10% each, effective March 1, 2007. The left knee strain is also rated at 10%, but only from June 5, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral ear condition was denied due to lack of an established nexus.,Service connection for neck, left knee, and sleep conditions were also denied as there is no current disability.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection for various conditions as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee disabilities, and an unspecified depressive disorder due to additional development being necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his service connection claim for a left knee disability, finding that new and material evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder due to the appellant withdrawing her appeal.