Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and new evidence being added to the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are remanded due to the need for additional development and examination. The issues include determining whether new evidence was received to reopen a claim, as well as evaluating various conditions such as tinnitus, rotator cuff disorders, arthritis, Gulf War syndrome, joint pain, headaches, sleep disturbances, allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory disorder, fatigue, skin disorder, knee tendonitis, ankle disorders, and others. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded to allow for further review and examination.

The Veteran's claims for right ankle, left knee (status post meniscectomy), and skin disorders have been reopened. He is now entitled to a noncompensable disability rating for his service-connected residuals of a left heel bone spur.

The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a left knee disorder have been reopened due to new evidence. However, service connection has not been granted for either condition.,Service connection was denied for the acquired psychiatric disorder as there is no evidence of a diagnosis in service or within one year after separation from service.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new examination to consider pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing. The RO must also address whether separate compensable ratings should be assigned for right knee instability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee DJD with laxity was denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee pain, bilateral foot pain, right ring finger condition, sinus infection, and thyroid condition due to new and material evidence. However, these claims are still pending as further VA examinations are needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability had limitation of motion for which a 20 percent rating was warranted prior to September 22, 2016. The claim is being remanded due to lack of adequate VA examination findings and need for further development.

The Veteran's left knee disability and instability are being remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate examination reports. The TDIU claim is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Board has decided to remand several cases due to the receipt of additional medical evidence. The Veteran is required to provide information about all healthcare providers who have treated him for his disabilities, and VA will attempt to obtain these records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a right foot disability, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, and that any current disabilities are not linked to service.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid & attendance or housebound status is remanded due to outstanding private treatment records. The issue is inextricably intertwined with the other SMC claim and service connection claims.

Service connection for left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and right shoulder disorders is denied.,Service connection for back disorder is denied as not caused or aggravated by service-connected hernia disability. Service connection for groin disorder is denied as separate from the Veteran’s service-connected hernia.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DDD of the lumbar spine, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine or Diagnostic Codes pertaining to knee disorders.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for the claim of entitlement to an increased rating for a right knee disability.

The Veteran is granted a separate rating of 10 percent for cartilage loss prior to April 27, 2004 and his right knee disorder rated at 60 percent from June 1, 2005. The effective date for the 60 percent rating remains pending further action.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine DJD and right knee disability were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee disability and hypothyroidism due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine the current severity of his disabilities, including range of motion studies and assessment of flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further development due to issues with scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a right knee disability and an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.