Knee Board decisions

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder prior to April 10, 2013. A 50 percent rating was granted thereafter. The Board also remanded three knee service connection issues, the hearing loss extraschedular issue and the TDIU issue. From March 13, 2014, a TDIU based on combined ratings of service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has determined that the claims for increased ratings for left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left shoulder strain with degenerative joint disease are remanded due to outstanding medical records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination or opinion regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to December 20, 2000 and June 29, 2000 for service connection of hiatal hernia with GERD and right knee DJD/LDJ respectively. The appeals are being remanded due to additional development needed.,The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental condition, right arm disability, right shoulder disability, OSA, kidney disability, and polycythemia.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to determine if the appellant's current back disability and left knee disability are related to his military service, specifically during training periods in July 2009 and November 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the right knee disability and its relationship to service-connected left knee disability. Additional evidence is needed, including a VA examination and an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected left knee disabilities, including arthritis and instability. The VA is instructed to arrange for a new examination of the Veteran's knees, obtain any outstanding private medical records, and provide the Veteran with another opportunity to respond to the request for information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's left knee disability and rhabdomyolysis (heat injury) are found to be related to service.,Hyperlipidemia is not a compensable condition for VA purposes.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further examination and consideration of the Veteran's lay reports regarding knee instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gout, low back pain, bilateral knee and ankle pain, as well as bilateral foot and toe pain are related to service. As a result, the claim for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability case is being remanded due to incomplete records, including physical therapy follow-up after his partial knee replacement in October 2009. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen a claim for service connection for a back disability is granted. Service connection for the same condition is also granted.,Service connection for left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis are all granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to failure to comply with a previous remand order. The Veteran's left knee and left ankle disabilities need further examination to determine their severity.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service. The evidence did not establish continuity of symptomatology since service separation.

The Board is remanding the claims due to new evidence being added to the record since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC). The Veteran's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) records, as well as private treatment records from Innovative Pain and Spine, have been associated with the case file. These documents must be reviewed by the AOJ for initial consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder, left hip, right hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to additional relevant VA treatment records not having been considered in a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations. The Veteran reported worsening symptoms since a previous examination in April 2014, including difficulty getting up from the bathroom, locking knees, falling due to instability, and using a wheelchair.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for the left knee disability, which is considered secondary to his service-connected back and right knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development to obtain medical records and for VA examinations to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and dyshidrotic eczematous dermatitis.