Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequate examinations in February 2014. A new examination is needed, including testing for pain on both active and passive range of motion, frequency and duration of flare-ups, and additional disability caused by these factors.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence for the issues of service connection and higher disability ratings. The VA will conduct further examinations and provide clarification on the nature and etiology of the disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability have been denied as the evidence does not show that he met the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent from November 29, 2004 to December 20, 2009, or a rating in excess of 20 percent from December 21, 2009 to December 8, 2010. For the periods beginning February 1, 2012 and November 1, 2014, his claims were denied as he did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examinations for rating purposes, and a new examination is needed.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, particularly regarding his mood disorder and right knee disability. The issues include service connection requests and rating increases.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his service-connected right knee disability due to the need for an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for TMJ disorder, bilateral knee arthralgias, and acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) have been granted. The issues of right shoulder disorder, cervicalgia, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease are being remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis, back disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus were denied service connection as they did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period or are otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's brain tumor with loss of balance was remanded for further evaluation due to potential exposure to asbestos during his service.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and the RO has remanded for further development on his right shoulder, thoracolumbar spine, neck, and left knee disabilities. The inguinal hernia rating remains noncompensable.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence added to the record and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused and aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea. The restoration of the 30 percent disability rating for left knee degenerative changes is granted, as are separate ratings for painful limitation of extension of both knees and symptomatic semilunar cartilage removal of the left knee.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disorder was denied. The evidence did not support an increased rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected post-traumatic arthritis of the right knee is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of right knee lateral meniscectomy, to include a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to July 1, 2018, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter, is remanded. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also remanded.,The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is remanded.

The Veteran's right knee meniscus disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted a separate compensable rating for episodes of joint pain and effusion. However, further development is needed to determine if higher ratings are warranted under other diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for various musculoskeletal conditions, including right shoulder tendonitis, right wrist tendonitis, right hip bursitis, and chondromalacia of the right knee, were denied. The current evaluations are found to be appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The Veteran's cervical spine spondylosis and degenerative disc disease were granted a 30 percent rating effective from February 4, 2016. The other conditions remained denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (diagnosed as depressive disorder) are all granted. The Board found that the current conditions are related to his military service due to the nature of his duties.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, finding that there is no evidence indicating that the disability may be associated with an event, injury, or disease in service.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for the issues of service connection for various conditions, including back disorder, right hip disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, allergic rhinitis, obstructive sleep apnea, hyperglycemia, alopecia, obesity, carpal tunnel syndrome of the wrists. Service connection was granted for Other Specified Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.