Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including left knee disability, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability with radiculopathy, and urinary incontinence associated with lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence of a nexus to service or service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied as the evidence does not show that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities alone prior to September 25, 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including joint stiffness, hand injuries, back pain, knee and leg issues, hearing loss, tinnitus, IBS, and sleep disturbance. The RO must make efforts to obtain VA examinations despite the Veteran's incarceration.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and a rating higher than 10 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease status post patellar tendon repair. The Veteran's current disabilities were found to be due to natural progression, overcompensation from his service-connected left knee disability, and civilian work rather than service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for sinusitis, back disability (including scoliosis with sciatica), upper respiratory infection, bilateral knee degenerative disc disease, hiatal hernia, and folliculitis. The remand requests additional examinations and reviews of records.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that his flexion was at least 60 degrees and he had full extension. The pain did not limit his range of motion enough to warrant a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder, left knee, and bilateral feet. The issues of service connection for neuropathy are also remanded. HIV is remanded as there is a current diagnosis and in-service incidents. PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder) are also remanded.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted as service-connected.,Prior to September 15, 2014, a 10 percent rating for hemorrhoids is granted. From September 15, 2014 onwards, the rating remains at 10 percent.,Service connection for left knee disability is granted.,A 20 percent rating for post-operative right hydrocele is granted from the date of examination (September 2014).,The cervical spine (neck) disability is remanded for further evaluation.,Cystitis cystica is remanded for a VA urologist's opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee, left hip, bilateral upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral foot toe disabilities have been dismissed.,Service connection for erectile dysfunction has been granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current cervical spine, right shoulder, right ankle and right knee disorders and his service. The VA is required to provide a new examination for each disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, left ankle disorder, and right ankle disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling an examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee osteomalacia.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed because the Veteran and his representative withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's right knee and bilateral foot disabilities are being remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for rib-fracture residuals and residual surgical scars of the right knee, right shoulder, and left foot are being remanded due to incomplete evaluations. The Veteran must provide a response to the Statement of the Case or have his appeal perfected by submitting a timely substantive appeal.

The Veteran's initial claim for an initial compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating based on his audiometric test results. The claims for service connection of left knee disability, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including post traumatic stress disorder and depressive disorder) were remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The appeals for service connection of right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities have been dismissed.,The appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent prior to July 20, 2013 for PTSD has been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for right knee, right leg, lumbar spine, and right eye disabilities due to new evidence indicating their severity may have changed since the last VA examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection of left knee and right knee disabilities. As a result, these issues are now considered by the Board.