Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected right knee condition is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records and scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee DJD is rated at 20 percent, more than the requested increased rating. The Board denied an increase in disability rating for his service-connected right knee DJD. For TDIU, the Veteran was granted based on his service-connected disabilities precluding him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for unspecified nervous disability (claimed as schizophrenia) is denied. His claims for increased ratings for status post right inguinal herniorrhaphy, tender scar of right inguinal area, and left lower knee scar are also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess current severity.

The Board has ordered remand for additional examinations and opinions due to the VA's failure to comply with its duty to assist in obtaining an adequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and permanent total disability rating was granted effective December 5, 2006. The Board found that the Veteran met the threshold percentage requirements for an award of TDIU as of December 5, 2006, and there is no reason to conclude that he could engage in substantially gainful employment at any point during the period from December 5, 2006, to July 31, 2008.

The Board has determined that the reduction in ratings for right knee disabilities was improper and void ab initio, and restored the original ratings. The case is now remanded to obtain a new VA examination to assess current disability levels.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and thoracolumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome with herniated disc prior to February 4, 2015 are denied. The Veteran's lumbar radiculopathy of the left lower extremity prior to February 4, 2015 is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an upper respiratory condition has been reopened, and he is granted service connection. The claims for bilateral knee injuries are remanded.,Service connection for PTSD was granted with a disability rating of 70 percent from February 9, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for osteoarthrosis of the right knee with medial meniscus tear, including as secondary to residuals of acute renal failure.,The Board also denied service connection for osteoarthrosis of the left knee, including as secondary to residuals of acute renal failure.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected knee disabilities and other issues. The Board also notes that the request for an earlier effective date for increased ratings has been recharacterized as a request for staged increased ratings.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, finding that his symptoms most closely approximated degenerative arthritis with limitation of motion.

The Veteran's low back, pes planus, and bilateral knee disabilities are granted as direct service connection. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50%.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10% for arthritis with limitation of motion and a separate 10% rating for residuals of the meniscectomy. For the lumbar spine, a noncompensable rating was assigned from January 1, 2012 to March 10, 2016, and a 10% rating has been granted since March 11, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased rating for a right knee disability and entitlement to a TDIU due to outstanding treatment records and the need for additional examination.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, prostate cancer, throat cancer, asthma, right knee disability, left knee disability, and left knee scar have been remanded due to the need for additional development.,Service connection for prostate cancer is granted based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to report for VA examinations and because he provided good cause. The cases are now being sent back for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and additional development is required, including obtaining USMC Reserve records and VA opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities.