Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have been granted, and he is now eligible for a TDIU. The issues of bilateral hearing loss, right eye condition, depression, bilateral foot condition, right knee condition, left shoulder condition, left hip condition, left elbow condition, left knee condition, erectile dysfunction, low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy have been resolved.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for mechanical low back pain and arthroscopy of the right knee were denied. The rating for mechanical low back pain was denied as it did not meet the criteria for an increased rating under Diagnostic Code 5242, while the rating for arthroscopy of the right knee was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, right hip osteoarthritis, left hip osteoarthritis, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to comply with a recent Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims (Court) opinion.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her patellofemoral syndrome of the left and right knees with degenerative changes prior to specific dates have been denied.

The Board denied service connection for right-elbow, left-elbow, right-knee, and left-knee skin conditions as the evidence did not establish a link to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, as the submitted evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims. The claim for an increased evaluation was granted but at a low level.

The Veteran's right knee and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their specific manifestations, with some issues receiving separate ratings due to different types of limitations.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and a liver condition due to potential exposure during service, which could impact the decision on PTSD.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of stress fractures of the feet and bilateral knee/leg disability, to include arthritis, including as secondary to a service-connected disability due to insufficient examination reports addressing the Veteran's complaints in service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar strain and left knee disorder, but finds that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection, including those pertaining to his back condition, eye condition, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, and migraines. The remaining conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for bipolar disorder with MRE depressed prior to March 4, 2009 was denied. A 70 percent rating is granted from that date forward. The case is remanded for further action on the right knee degenerative joint disease and total disability rating claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a left-hand disability. The reasons include that the presumptions of service connection apply due to combat status in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of his condition, particularly during flare-ups.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development on service connection claims that are intertwined with his TDIU application.

For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran's right radiocarpal joint sprain was productive of limited range of motion on account of pain, but without ankylosis. The criteria for entitlement to an initial increased rating above 10 percent from August 20, 2015 until March 8, 2017 for the Veteran's right radiocarpal joint sprain is denied.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran’s right knee strain was productive of slight instability and painful motion. The criteria for entitlement to an increased rating for the Veteran’s right knee strain based on instability are met from March 9, 2017; a separate initial rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for painful motion is granted.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran’s rhinitis has been manifested by greater than 50 percent obstruction of the nasal passages on both sides. The criteria for entitlement to an initial increased rating to 10 percent, and no higher, prior to February 10, 2017 are met; a denial is made for an increased rating above 10 percent from February 10, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and low back disorders have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability is denied. The effective date of the 20% rating for his low back disability is set to April 21, 2017.

The Board has determined that the VA contract opinions are inadequate and remands the case for further development, including obtaining new etiological opinions addressing all theories of entitlement to service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various disabilities, including bilateral knees, left wrist, low back, pinched nerves of upper extremities/neck, and hepatitis C are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA will conduct further examinations and determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.