Knee Board decisions

The Board granted a rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's total left knee replacement from November 1, 2016. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left knee disorder, otitis media, sinusitis, hypertension, urticaria, thyroid cancer, and headaches. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Veteran's left knee disorder is denied as not incurred in service. The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted as incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder was granted a TDIU rating of 100 percent effective October 29, 2007. The increased ratings for left knee disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a head injury, but denied service connection for a right knee disability. The TDIU claim is remanded due to the grant of service connection for residuals of a head injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, as well as the TDIU claim due to service-connected disabilities. The remand requires that a VA examiner provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's current shoulder and knee conditions are aggravated by his right ankle disability or related to vaccinations in service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for GERD and a lumbar spine disability are dismissed. The Veteran's appeal for TDIU beginning November 5, 2010 is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine disorders. The decision is based on the evidence showing a relationship between these conditions and active service.

The claims of service connection for IBS and stomach ulcer are dismissed. The claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted, but the rating assigned remains to be determined. The claims of service connection for left hip disorder, left knee disorder, hearing loss, tinnitus, psychiatric disorder, sleep disorder, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hip disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, and peripheral neuropathy due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service. The issues of service connection for bilateral foot disabilities, sleep apnea, and seizure disorder are remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the above claims.

The Veteran's bilateral shin splints and right and left knee disabilities are granted with a rating of 20 percent effective November 6, 2007. The service connection for the knee disabilities is denied.

The Veteran's claims for SMC based on need for aid and attendance of another person, housebound status, special home adaptation or specially adapted housing, and automobile adaptive equipment are remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding his service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, right wrist sprain, left shin splints, and PTSD with alcohol use disorder. The appeals are also remanded for further evaluation of other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable from June 16, 2011 until January 23, 2012. The Board granted a TDIU for this period as his combined disability rating was at least 70 percent.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for reopening service connection claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, and plantar fasciitis. The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine intervertebral disc syndrome is remanded. The appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left lower extremity sciatica is also remanded. The appeal for TDIU is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings due to potential errors in medical examinations and lack of recent VA treatment records.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted, and a 50% rating for pes planus is granted. A separate disability rating of 20% for left knee semilunar cartilage dislocation is also granted. The right and left shoulder disabilities and right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The appeals for increased disability ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's plica tear of the left knee was granted a 10 percent evaluation effective January 14, 2008 for the period prior to August 17, 2012. For the appeal period from August 17, 2012, he is denied an increased rating.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral knee disability, finding that the Veteran's knee condition was primarily manifested by pain and limited flexion to no less than 80 degrees.