Knee Board decisions

The Board denied a rating greater than 20 percent for left knee chondromalacia manifesting as limitation of flexion, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability. The Veteran's disability picture did not more nearly approximate the degree required for higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5257.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee osteoarthritis is caused by her service-connected right knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The appeal on the issues of ratings for knee degenerative joint disease and TDIU prior to September 15, 2011 is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's motion for an earlier effective date for IHD was dismissed.,The claim to reopen the erectile dysfunction and SMC loss of use of a creative organ claims, as well as the right knee disability claims, is denied.,The claim to reopen the diabetes mellitus claim is denied. The Board finds that new and material evidence has not been received to support this claim.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim was reopened based on new evidence showing noise exposure during service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and ankle disabilities from a noncompensable rating to 10 percent effective October 1, 2016. The claim for increased ratings remains on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his right knee disability and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his bilateral knee disabilities and service connection claim for a right eye disorder are being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations and consideration of additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for low back, left hip, and left knee disabilities due to insufficient opinions regarding their relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus has been reopened, but the claim remains denied as there is no evidence that his tinnitus began during service or is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for low back disorder and right knee disorder due to insufficient rationale in a previous medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within a presumptive period. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between the current condition and service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder disability, a left index finger disability, and a right knee disability have been granted. The disabilities are found to be related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings of his right knee and right sciatica conditions before the Board could make a decision.

The claims for service connection of left and right knee conditions were denied because the evidence did not establish that the Veteran's pre-existing knee conditions were aggravated by his active duty service. The Board found no new and material evidence to reopen these claims.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for increased rating and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran needs updated VA treatment records, a completed VA Form 21-8940, and an adequate VA examination.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the current severity and etiology of the Veteran's disabilities, including his hand/fingers, elbows, knees, left shoulder, and back conditions. The claims have been remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by arthritis-related painful motion, is not rated higher than 10 percent from July 23, 2014, to January 8, 2017. Separate ratings of 10 percent are granted for left knee instability and left knee medial meniscectomy.

The Veteran's left knee conditions do not warrant a higher rating, and his residual scar from upper-back cyst removal does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran’s appeal is remanded due to the need for further examination and evaluation of his service-connected conditions, as well as additional evidence regarding his claims. The appeals are not related to a presumption or exposure basis.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for her left knee disorder and service connection for bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The left knee condition is rated at 10 percent, while the hearing loss does not meet VA criteria for disability.