Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 13, 2010.

The Board has denied an initial compensable rating for hypertension. The claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction, left knee disability, and left wrist strain are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbar spondylosis with IVDS, right knee instability, and osteoarthritis of the right knee are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional evidence and arrange for further VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg disorder, including as secondary to his service-connected back disability and/or an undiagnosed illness. The remand includes obtaining complete service treatment records, verifying dates of ACDUTRA and INACDUTRA, scheduling a VA examination, and expanding the scope of the Veteran's claim to include secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is granted at a 40 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran’s hemorrhoid disability and low back disability are also granted with respective ratings. Other issues related to service connection or increased ratings have been remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent, which adequately compensates for his condition. The Board found no evidence of severe painful motion or weakness to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee condition is rated at 10 percent, the minimum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5003 for limitation of motion due to degenerative arthritis. The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's flexion or extension was limited to less than 45 degrees or more than 10 degrees respectively.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a low back condition, right knee disorder, and scars associated with surgery for bilateral gynecomastia was denied. The Board found that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, and that there is no direct or secondary service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and increased ratings has been granted, but effective dates prior to the date of receipt of claims are denied. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right tibia and fibula fracture with right knee impairment was denied. The Board found that the disability did not result in moderate disability of the knee, loss range of motion to a compensable degree, or instability. The TDIU claim is remanded due to lack of development.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities and right knee scars, as well as TDIU. The Veteran's lower back disorder and radiculopathy service connection claims are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability prior to January 1, 2011 is being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration of applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition, right knee condition, and headaches have been reopened. The Board has remanded the cases to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The claim for an increased rating for the left knee prior to November 2, 2012, and from January 1, 2014, is remanded. The TDIU issue is also remanded.

The Veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction was withdrawn.,Claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip arthritis were both dismissed as new and material evidence was not received within the required timeframe.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need to consider additional evidence from a recent VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the left and right knees as there was no evidence showing that the Veteran's current knee disabilities were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities have been denied. The left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, while the right knee disability was previously rated at 10 percent prior to September 2, 2014, and currently rated at 20 percent from that date.