Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as his claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain. The Veteran is to be provided with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of missing records. The VA will determine if his conditions are related to his military service, including exposure in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee disability prior to December 2, 2015 and 60 percent thereafter (excluding the temporary 100% rating from December 2, 2015 to February 1, 2017 for prosthetic replacement of the left knee) has been dismissed. The appeal for a higher rating for service-connected diffuse degenerative joint disease and spondylolisthesis of the lumbar spine is remanded. The appeal for an initial compensable rating for service-connected right knee disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and conflicting opinions. The issues include tinnitus, left knee disability, right knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity sciatica, right lower extremity sciatica, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain and knee disability, have been found to meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) since March 18, 1993.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting findings in a previous VA examination regarding range of motion loss. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for osteoarthritis of the right knee with loss of extension prior to March 23, 2016 is now before the RO again.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis and right knee degenerative joint disease, as well as effective dates for these conditions.,Further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral plantar fasciitis is related to his service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for cirrhosis of the liver and bilateral knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for readjudication of all evidence added since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address whether the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his military service or if it was caused by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and DJD are granted service connection based on the chronicity of symptoms since service. The left hip arthralgia and trochanteric bursitis are not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's lumbar degenerative disc disease with IVDS was denied a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to March 16, 2018 and a rating in excess of 40 percent from that date onwards.,The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee was denied a higher than 10 percent rating throughout the appeal period.,The Veteran's left ankle strain was denied a higher than 10 percent rating throughout the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and failure to address flare-ups in the left knee.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable for the period prior to September 2011, as he participated in a non-paid work experience with SSA and had obtained a Bachelor’s degree. The Board denied entitlement to TDIU during this period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient examination reports and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records from Health Services Medical Records. The Veteran needs to authorize VA to obtain his treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent effective April 23, 2018. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient evidence regarding the current existence of a right knee disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity. The Veteran's service-connected right hip osteoarthritis is also being remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen service connection claims, as well as the claim of entitlement to cause of death. The appellant must clarify her intention regarding substitution or accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal before the Board could make a decision.