Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, including a lack of medical records from his incarceration and updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his left shoulder strain, left ankle strain, and dermatitis of the chest and upper back due to incomplete examinations and outstanding SSA records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee condition due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left elbow, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of current disability evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, and bladder disability due to evidence indicating worsening since previous examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his right knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The Veteran is also being asked for a new examination to determine the severity of his lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for a retrospective examination to address the current and past severity of the Veteran's right knee disability status post total knee replacement, from the time of his knee replacement in 2009 up to the present. The examiner is asked to provide an opinion on the level of impairment during flare-ups and its impact on work capacity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims for left knee, right shoulder, left shoulder, rib contusion, bilateral foot disorder (other than skin disorder), and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and effective dates is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records. The issues of TDIU are also inextricably intertwined with the rating claims.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis has worsened, and a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's thoracic spine strain is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, and the Board finds a 20 percent rating is warranted.,The Veteran’s right elbow lateral epicondylitis warrants an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.,The effective date for service connection of diabetes mellitus must be earlier than December 17, 2007.,The Veteran's diabetic nephropathy requires a higher initial rating.,The Veteran’s coronary artery disease with bypass graft warrants an initial rating in excess of 30 percent.,The effective date for service connection of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy must be earlier than March 25, 2010.,The Veteran's hypertension requires a higher initial compensable rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and conducting further examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected knee and wrist disabilities.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, and left knee disabilities. The cases are remanded for further development to determine the appropriate ratings.

The Veteran's right shoulder impingement syndrome is granted as service connection was reopened.,Service connection for lumbar spine disability with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and insomnia), bilateral flat feet, left hip disability, right hip condition, left wrist disability, right wrist disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, heart condition, and erectile dysfunction is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are denied.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided were inadequate for adjudication purposes and has ordered a new examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service.

Service connection is denied for a right knee disability, hypertension, and tinnitus.,Effective dates prior to October 2, 2015, are not warranted for service connection of migraine headaches and fibromyalgia.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The claims for rheumatoid arthritis of the knees, heart disease, nephropathy (claimed as bilateral kidneys), and neuropathy of upper and lower extremities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal of the right knee disorder issue has been dismissed. The left knee degenerative changes issue is remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen claims for service connection of various conditions, but the cases are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for an extra-schedular rating for his right knee disability and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records, private treatment records, and Social Security Administration (SSA) income records. The Veteran will also be provided with another VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disability.