Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee condition. The issue of Individual Unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 22, 2011 was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The left ankle disability was rated 10% prior to December 11, 2017 and 20% from that date forward. The low back disability was rated 10% before April 26, 2016, 20% from April 26, 2016 to February 26, 2018, and 40% from February 27, 2018. The right lower extremity radiculopathy was rated 10% before June 22, 2017 and 20% after that date. The left lower extremity radiculopathy was rated 10% before June 22, 2017 and 20% after that date. The cervical spine disability was rated 10% prior to April 26, 2016 and 20% after that date. The right upper extremity radiculopathy was rated 40% from June 22, 2017. The left upper extremity radiculopathy was rated 20% from June 22, 2017. The right knee and left knee disabilities were both denied.

The Veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a residual left knee disability, including as residuals of an infection, due to VA treatment in September 2012. The Board finds that additional records are needed and requests a VA opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to his knee brace and shoe insert was denied because the VA determined that these items do not tend to wear or tear clothing, as required by the regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine the current nature and extent of the Veteran's left and right knee disorders, including his total right knee arthoplasty. The RO is also instructed to rate under the most appropriate Diagnostic Code(s) and consider staged ratings as may be appropriate.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for a left knee disorder is granted. The claim of service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims for service connection for various orthopedic conditions and a penis tear/erectile dysfunction. The cases are remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further examination and development due to incomplete records and non-compliant VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there is no longer a case or controversy pending before the Board due to the full grant of benefits sought on appeal. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was denied.

The Board has denied service connection for migraine headaches due to the absence of a current diagnosis. The claims for back condition, bilateral knees, and bilateral ankles are remanded as the VA examinations were inadequate.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia was rated at 10 percent prior to August 31, 2017. The Veteran is now receiving a 100 percent rating for his left knee since the date of surgery.,The Veteran's left ankle achilles tendonitis has been rated at 20 percent since April 15, 1999.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective August 1, 2008, the date he first received service connection for his disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and lumbar disk bulging and facet degeneration of L4-5, as well as service connection for schizophrenia and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The cases of lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot numbness, and bilateral foot strain are remanded for further development.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the 10 percent evaluation for service-connected right knee degenerative joint disease and remanded the issue of service connection for a back condition.

The Veteran's pes planus with fasciitis and right total knee replacement with scar are rated at 30% and 60%, respectively. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities, granting entitlement to TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient examination reports and the need for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it may be significantly impacted by the outcome of the increased rating issue.

The Board has remanded multiple claims for service connection, including for DJD of various joints and related disabilities such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, diabetic neuropathy, and tinnitus. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, including assessing functional limitations caused by pain and associated symptoms during flare-ups. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.