Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected heart condition, knee condition, and PTSD prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and work experience.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder was rated at 30 percent from May 18, 2011 to June 26, 2014. The Board denied a higher rating for this period. For the right knee PFS issue, the case is remanded as further examination is needed.

The Veteran's hypertension was noted on his entrance examination and did not increase in severity during service. The Board finds the medical opinion of record to be more probative than the Veteran’s lay assertions regarding the etiology and severity of his hypertension.,An addendum opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's pre-existing skin condition existed prior to service, was aggravated by service, or is related to in-service symptomatology.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his right knee instability associated with arthritis is remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess current severity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including new medical opinions and review of VA treatment records.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for flat feet is denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate for adjudication purposes due to incomplete STRs. The Veteran's left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss may be related to service, but more evidence is needed.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability was denied, and the appeal to reopen it is denied. The Veteran's claim of service connection for an eye disability has been reconsidered due to new evidence received since the last final denial.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of his left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for her bilateral knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination and failure to consider referral for extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee sprain and left ankle sprain was granted. The right knee sprain is rated at 10%, while the left ankle sprain is rated at 20%.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar strain, right and left knee conditions, a neck condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder as it was incurred in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disability and his military service.

The Board has expanded the issue to include whether a change in the stated employment goal is warranted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his attempts to obtain employment. The case is being remanded for an additional functional capacity evaluation, as well as for the Veteran to provide evidence of unsuccessful job attempts.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for internal derangement of the right knee, to include osteoarthritis, has been reopened and granted.,Service connection is also granted for osteoarthritis of the left knee.

The Veteran's initial 10% disability ratings for left and right knee strains were restored from April 30, 2015, to April 6, 2017. The RO found that the improvement in range of motion did not reflect an actual improvement in the Veteran’s ability to function under ordinary conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right ankle arthrodesis, left knee osteoarthritis with chondromalacia and total knee arthroplasty, posttraumatic stress disorder, left ankle arthroplasty, tinnitus, right hip degenerative joint disease, and left hip degenerative joint disease, are found to be of such nature and severity as to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Veteran's TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issue of bilateral knee disorder due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder.,There is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims that his current disorders are related to service.