Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including bilateral ankle, knee, wrist, left mandibular paresthesia, lumbar spine disability (DDD), middle finger disability, and bilateral hip disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain VA examinations and additional medical records.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the remaining issues on appeal, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling new examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for left knee degenerative joint disease prior to July 28, 2017 and beginning July 28, 2017 are denied. The issue of referral for extra-schedular rating consideration is before the Board.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding his service-connected status post residuals of right index finger fracture, left knee strain with limited extension and quadriceps muscle injury group XIV as residuals of left knee surgery, and right knee strain.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as the earliest date of entitlement is April 16, 2013, which is the day following his discharge from active duty.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are denied as the earliest date of entitlement is April 16, 2013, which is the day following his discharge from active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical records related to the Veteran's cause of death, and a VA examiner is needed to assess whether there is any relationship between the Veteran’s cause of death and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to assess her left knee and back disabilities, as previous examinations were inadequate. The Veteran will be provided with a new VA examination to determine the extent of her functional impairment due to pain during flares or repetitive use.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for service connection for a back condition, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee due to lack of new and material evidence.,No specific exposure basis was provided in the decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left wrist, right shoulder, right arm pain, left arm pain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (low back disability), left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the severity of his left wrist condition, nature and etiology of his right shoulder and arm disabilities, and nature and etiology of his low back and knee conditions.

The Veteran's left knee conditions, including post-operative meniscectomy and ligament repair, posttraumatic DJD with painful motion, and lateral instability, are not rated higher than the current levels. The case is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee instability and degenerative arthritis with chondromalacia of the right knee due to insufficient medical evidence in the record. Additional examination is required to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's joint pain of the bilateral shoulders, elbows, hands, and feet is not considered service-connected.,Further investigation into these conditions is needed as they may be related to undiagnosed illness or chronic multisymptom illness associated with his Persian Gulf War service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right knee disability and hip disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee instability and OA was granted effective from November 26, 2001. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support an earlier effective date.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee and right heel disabilities as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability, secondary to his right knee disability, has been reopened. His right knee degenerative joint disease and meniscus removal have both been granted increased ratings.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion addressing prior range of motion and functional loss due to pain.

The Veteran's DJD of the right foot is rated at 20 percent, and his Right Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome and Right Ankle Achilles Tendonitis are each rated at 20 percent.

A separate, 30 percent rating for the side effects of medications used to treat lumbosacral strain with DDD and degenerative arthritis is granted. The initial rating for chondromalacia of the right knee remains remanded.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and right leg amputation below the knee as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service, with particular emphasis on the lack of in-service injury or exposure.