Knee Board decisions

The Board previously denied increased initial ratings for the Veteran's DJD and limitation of extension of the left knee. The Court has ordered remand due to inadequate VA examinations that did not address whether there is additional range of motion loss during flare-ups as a result of pain.

The Veteran's left knee disability, chronic allergic rhinitis, and service-connected dermatitis have been granted. The claims for plantar fasciitis, right calcaneal bone spurs, diverticulosis, and rectal bleeding are denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to a lack of recent VA examination and outstanding medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis are at least as likely as not related to his active service, thus granting service connection for both knees.

The Veteran's appeal regarding an increased evaluation for unspecified mental disorder and major depressive disorder was dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing her appeal. The appeals for increased evaluations of lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities (left and right) were remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of bilateral hearing loss and right and left knee disorders are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the addition of new evidence and issues needing further consideration. The claims for service connection, disability rating, TDIU, and adaptive equipment are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to assess the severity of his conditions.

Service connection is granted for pseudofolliculitis barbae and right knee disability.,Service connection is denied for sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to determine the severity of his service-connected cervical spine, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy.,Service connection claims for left knee disorder, headaches, psychiatric disorder, nausea, and vertigo are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability was reopened and granted, as the evidence now shows that his current condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, bilateral knee replacements, ischemic heart disease, and bilateral hearing loss, make it impossible for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. As a result, the Board has granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and a need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current left knee disorder is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating for right fifth metacarpal fracture with arthritis, and denied entitlement to higher initial ratings for degenerative joint and disc disease of the cervical spine, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to January 28, 2015. The evidence does not reflect some factor that takes his case 'outside the norm' of any other veteran rated at the same level.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disorder, back disorder, and headaches (secondary to PTSD) due to incomplete records and inadequate examination.

The Veteran's appeal on hearing loss, PTSD, and knee issues was dismissed due to his death. No service connection decisions were made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, including bilateral femoral syndrome and patellofemoral syndrome, are related to service. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether these conditions began during or were aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to a lack of recent VA examination and treatment records, as well as the need for retrospective medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions.

The Board has decided that an additional examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, as the last VA examination was in April 2013.