Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The appellant's STRs and records from his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA need to be verified.

The Board denied service connection for rhabdomyolysis of the arms, bilateral hearing loss, and a bilateral knee disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or related to service.

The Board has found that the VA examinations conducted in August 2016 were inadequate for rating purposes and remanded the claims for further development.

The Board has granted the reopening of the claim for entitlement to service connection for a left knee replacement. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen claims for right and back disabilities is dismissed.

The Board has denied service connection for hearing loss, and the claims for bilateral knee conditions, heart condition (also claimed as atrioventricular block and endocarditis), anxiety, and depression are remanded due to a lack of evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is being remanded for obtaining updated VA and private treatment records, as well as a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected disabilities on employment. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for allergic rhinitis, increased ratings for right shoulder and left knee disabilities, and increased rating for hemorrhoids. The claim to reopen and grant service connection for low back disability was granted.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent, and his migraine headaches are rated at 30 percent prior to December 29, 2017, and 50 percent since then. The appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the left knee disability was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and left hip and knee conditions, prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal is denied for an increased rating for left knee instability and granted a separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, but he is eligible for financial assistance in purchasing one automobile or other conveyance due to his service-connected left knee disability.

The claim for service connection of a right knee disability was denied. The claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and panic disorder) is granted as secondary to tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for Meniere's syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability and instability have been rated as 10 percent disabling since November 1, 2012. The rating has not changed from the initial grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as the claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and records. The Veteran is required to undergo examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been rated at 10 percent since the grant of service connection. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes are not satisfied, as his flexion and extension were limited to 120 degrees and 0 degrees respectively with pain.

The Veteran's allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and bilateral knee condition are granted as service connected.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and PTSD, finding no evidence of in-service injury or stressor. The Veteran's diagnoses were established post-service.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, while his bilateral ankle disability is rated at 10 percent since April 25, 2016. The appeals for higher ratings were denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his right knee, respiratory, and psychiatric disabilities. The RO is instructed to schedule examinations and obtain updated VA treatment records.