Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been shown to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, leading to the grant of a TDIU effective December 22, 2013. The cases for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for left and right knee arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to have had its onset during service and has persisted since then, granting service connection.,Service connection for the left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder secondary to bilateral knee disorders is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded as there are no current audiometric findings that meet VA criteria for a disability. The Veteran's representative indicated possible worsening of his condition since the last examination in 2011.,Service connection for peritoneal adhesions is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence, including lack of records from the private debridement surgery performed in 2002.,Service connection for a psychiatric disorder is remanded as there are no current diagnoses or sufficient medical evidence linking service to the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling for extension, effective July 27, 2017. The Board has found no basis to grant a higher evaluation based on limitation of motion at any point during the appeal period.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and heart disease are remanded due to conflicting opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The decision is based on a finding that these conditions are related to in-service injuries.

The Board has determined that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, right and left knee disabilities, respiratory disability, DM, skin disability, and dental disability. The appeals are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and further examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including knee disability, shin splints, flat feet, hearing loss, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to evaluate his current left knee chondromalacia with instability and whether it has materially improved under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's application for a TDIU was denied because he is not service connected for any disabilities.

The Veteran's request to reopen his previously-denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability was dismissed.,The Veteran's requests to reopen his previously-denied claims for depression and PTSD were granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left knee disabilities, including a temporary total disability rating due to hospitalization and convalescence after surgery, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to outstanding records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of right foot drop. The rating for residuals of transverse process fractures at T-12, L1, L3, and L4, with herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1, has been increased to 60 percent from December 1, 2014.

The Veteran's left knee disability has worsened since her last VA examination in August 2014, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of her condition.

The Board denied a rating higher than 10 percent for right knee strain with limitation of motion, finding that the evidence did not show flexion limited to 30 degrees or worse.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee arthritis due to a lack of medical evidence linking his current conditions to his active service. The Veteran must be provided with a VA examination to determine if his knee problems are related to his time in the military.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability. The case is remanded for further development, including VA examinations and rating actions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher or separate rating under various diagnostic codes were not met, except for remanding one issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder has been reopened, and the Board is remanding this issue for further development.,Service connection was denied for fibromyalgia, OSA, cervical spine disorder, left elbow disorder, right elbow disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability due to insufficient medical evidence, including lack of consideration of his Reserve service.