Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The RO granted a separate rating for left knee semilunar cartilage tear associated with DJD, but denied an earlier effective date. Ratings for right and left total hip replacements are granted at 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right and left total knee arthroplasties have been denied as the maximum schedular rating (60%) has already been assigned.

The Veteran's back disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee, foot, hand disabilities and COPD due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is conceded.

The Veteran is granted a higher rating of 40 percent for limited extension of the right knee since February 28, 2013.,A separate rating of 10 percent is granted for symptomatic residuals of right knee meniscal surgery since September 7, 2011.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional VA treatment records and to provide the Veteran with a new VA examination for his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for service-connected left knee scar was denied, and the Board has remanded the case to obtain a new VA examination regarding his left knee disorder.

The Veteran's depression and tension headaches are granted as secondary to service-connected bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The left shoulder disability is denied, and the cervical spine disability is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as low back disorder. The claims for bilateral foot disorders are still pending but not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected left ankle disability is rated at 20 percent effective from April 5, 2016. His service-connected osteoarthritis of the left knee remains rated at 10 percent. The appeal for increased ratings and service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left knee disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and a need for an examination to determine if the Veteran's current knee disorders are related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for various service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee osteoarthritis and internal derangement, bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, and lower extremity radiculopathy. The appellant is to be afforded appropriate examinations to determine the current severity of his lumbar spine, right knee, and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, which he asserts is secondary to his service-connected bilateral flat foot with traumatic arthritis and tarsal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hip pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral leg pain, and bilateral foot pain due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran needs further examination to determine if he has a disability or functional limitation related to these parts of his body.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and peripheral neuropathy of the extremities due to outstanding treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral knee disorder as the evidence did not show a link between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial rating for PTSD is dismissed. The Board also finds that further development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the issue of entitlement to an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee meniscal tear with joint osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted on an extraschedular basis.,For the period from March 7, 2012, to November 30, 2017, his acquired psychiatric disability was evaluated as 50 percent disabling. The Board found that this level of impairment did not meet or exceed the criteria for a higher rating (such as 70% or 100%) and thus denied an increased evaluation.,The Veteran's arthritis conditions were remanded due to insufficient evidence on whether they are service-connected.,Service connection was granted for headaches secondary to tinnitus.,Other claims, including those related to sleep disability, hypertension, skin condition, diabetes mellitus, special monthly compensation, and TDIU, were also remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, low back, left hip, right hip, and right knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's current disabilities are not considered the result of an August 1972 motor vehicle accident.,Service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus has also been denied as there is no credible evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand during the Veteran's period of active duty.