Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for left knee chondromalacia patella, right knee chondromalacia patella, and chronic mechanical low back pain with sciatica have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal before any decision was made.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent prior to July 17, 2017 and 30 percent from September 1, 2018. The Board denied increased ratings for both periods.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, and bilateral knee disabilities. The claim for reopening of the coronary heart disease was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, effective October 21, 2006. The RO has denied higher ratings for these conditions.,A TDIU is granted from September 28, 2017, based on the combined rating of 70% due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease and granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability of the right knee. The case is remanded to determine if service connection for left knee strain, including as secondary to service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease, should be granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, elbow, back, and knee disorders as secondary to his service-connected splenomegaly. The VA examiner concluded that these disorders are not caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's right knee arthroscopy is remanded due to deficiencies in the previous VA examination and a need for additional records from her private orthopedist.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and respiratory disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his military service, and the Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between his current disability and his in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to service-connected bilateral pleural plaques. The claims for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for a left knee disability and common variable immune deficiency. However, additional development is needed as new VA examinations are required to determine the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete examinations and lack of consideration of relevant medical history.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not show an increase in disability or a new claim within one year of the initial rating decisions.,The Veteran was granted service connection for his conditions, but the effective dates assigned are based on when he filed his original claims.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his permanent and total disability status. A new examination is needed to assess these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. However, the Board has determined that sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, and right knee disability were not incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular requirements for a TDIU and it is unlikely that he can secure and follow substantial gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities. The appeal regarding higher ratings for gout, low back disability, right knee disability, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and urinary frequency are also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the left knee disability, specifically addressing whether it is related to service or aggravated by a service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to reported worsening symptoms.