Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, left leg disability (including left knee and right elbow), sleep apnea, and residuals of an oral injury due to lack of a VA examination. The Veteran is requested to provide lay statements and undergo examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to service. A VA examination will be required.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of residuals of a left knee injury, and has remanded it for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder and lower back pain, as well as her right knee condition due to incomplete medical records.

The Board dismissed the appeals for initial compensable evaluations for bilateral knee scars. For the lumbar spine disability, a rating of 60 percent is granted from March 21, 2014, and all other claims are denied.

Service connection for a right knee disability is granted. Restoration of service connection for left knee disabilities since March 1, 2014 is denied. An initial schedular rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion of the left knee prior to March 1, 2014 is denied. An increased rating greater than 30 percent for residuals of a left total knee arthroplasty is remanded. Entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for a metal brace used for her service-connected left knee disability is granted. Her clothing allowance for using a cane in connection with her service-connected left knee disability is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is currently rated as noncompensable, and a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's tinnitus is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating available.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service and more likely due to a workplace injury in 2007.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA examinations and determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claims of service connection for bilateral knee, hip, and foot disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The examiner is instructed to determine if any current knee disability clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and whether it was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing separation examination records. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities due to incomplete records and the need to obtain additional information.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for hypertension, pulmonary embolism, status post colon resection, left ankle arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, bilateral shoulder arthritis, bilateral hand arthritis, and bilateral foot arthritis due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims. Service connection was granted for residuals of recurring incisional hernia with associated scarring.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for low back strain and right femur disability, as well as an earlier effective date for shortening of the right lower extremity. The Veteran is required to provide updated VA treatment records and undergo VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability is reopened due to the submission of new evidence, but the issue remains remanded as further medical opinion is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes and hypertension were dismissed. The Board also denied increased ratings for her degenerative arthritis of the left knee and meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis of the right knee, but granted a separate rating of 10 percent for painful extension of each knee. Service connection was denied for tinnitus, sleep apnea, herniated cervical disc, and lumbar spine condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disorder, skin disorder (lichen planus), and foot disorder are pending.