Knee Board decisions

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. An initial 10 percent disability rating, but no higher, for a left knee scar is granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection of ear problems and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that his pre-existing condition did not worsen during service and was not aggravated.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for a right foot condition and kidney stones. The Board remanded the claims of service connection for left knee condition and right knee condition (secondary to left knee).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient development and examination. The Veteran's knee and hip disorders are not found to be related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, and the psychiatric disorder is not found to be proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and for further development.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, left foot disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted but the issue is recharacterized as PTSD.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD) is granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent, 20 percent, 10 percent, 10 percent, and 10 percent for right knee disability, left knee weakness and instability, a left knee scar, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and left knee arthritis respectively.

The Board has granted a maximum schedular rating of 100 percent for the loss of use of both feet, effective from when the claim was filed. The left foot amputation is part of this rating and does not warrant a separate evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to work.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disability is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected left knee disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis rating remains at 10 percent, but the Board has requested additional evidence to review and may change this decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure is granted. The effective date of the grant is August 13, 2018. The claims for earlier effective dates for end stage renal disease, left wrist disability, and left knee injury with limitation of extension are also granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and a need for an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU on March 13, 2018, due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board has determined that he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The claims for service connection of right leg disorder, left leg disorder, sinusitis, and hypertension have been dismissed.,The claim for service connection of sleep apnea has been reopened and granted. The Veteran's current diagnosis is linked to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left leg disorder, including as secondary to residuals of a non-displaced metatarsal left foot fifth metatarsal fracture, finding that there was no evidence linking any diagnosed left leg disorder to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her medical records.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which included osteoarthritis and previous ACL and meniscus repairs, was granted a 20% evaluation for the period prior to October 3, 2017. The decision also noted that her left knee status post total arthroplasty had been rated at 10%. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of left knee, right knee, and left hand conditions due to lack of prior claims or communications.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The appeal seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of right knee disability is dismissed as moot due to the revision of the September 1983 rating decision on CUE. Service connection for various conditions including cervical spine, bilateral hip disorder, left leg condition, and psychiatric disorders are remanded.