Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and meniscal/cartilage injury, is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5003 for noncompensable limitation of motion. The Board denied an increased rating as the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Board has decided that a medical examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine and bilateral knee conditions are related to his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (IDS) of the thoracolumbar spine, or if they are separate conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone did not preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee disorder may be related to his military service, but more evidence is needed to determine if it is secondary to a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, effective from January 11, 2016. The Board has remanded the case for a new examination to assess the current severity of his right knee disability and for any outstanding treatment records to be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for right knee patellofemoral syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Peyronie's disease, and urinary incontinence as they are not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for posttraumatic degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left knee and left knee laxity, finding that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability following a July 1993 left total hip replacement is being remanded due to the need for an updated VA examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to their death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as they have become moot.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his service-connected left and right knee chondromalacia disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that his symptoms more nearly approximate a higher disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthritis, left foot frostbite residuals (claimed as peripheral neuropathy), and right foot frostbite residuals (claimed as peripheral neuropathy).

Service connection for a left knee disorder is granted. A disability rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD is denied. Bilateral hearing loss and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left shoulder, cervical spine, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disorders due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical records and undergo VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors. The conditions of interest include dental issues, hallux valgus of the feet, pseudofolliculitis barbae, right ankle condition, varicocele condition, low back condition, left knee condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), headache condition, acquired psychiatric disorder, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The appeal is remanded due to issues related to a TDIU claim.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the issues of entitlement to service connection for a left hip disability and an increased rating for a left ankle disability due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these appeals.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives, unclear medical evidence regarding pre-service knee issues, and the need for updated treatment records and an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee conditions, as well as a psychiatric condition (unspecified depressive disorder), but denied service connection for high cholesterol. The decision also remanded the Veteran's claim for hypertension.

The Veteran's right knee disability, which has been rated as 100% disabling since August 3, 2006 and then reduced to 30% from November 1, 2008, is now granted a 60% rating effective November 9, 2017.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability is granted as service-connected due to aggravation during combat. The claim for higher ratings on the left knee disability prior to May 1, 2016, and thereafter remains pending.