Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disability due to new and material evidence. However, the issue is remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claim of a higher rating for his left knee disability was denied because he failed to report for the necessary VA examination, and thus the claim lacks legal merit.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU due to incomplete VA examinations, including lack of joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion, and failure to provide an estimate of functional loss during flare-ups.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for sinus bradycardia due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing the appeal prior to a decision. The appeals for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding his sleep apnea and scars. The TDIU claim is also raised.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection of above-the-knee amputation of the right leg as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and chondromalacia patella are proximately due to his service-connected right knee replacement, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims due to insufficient evidence or inadequate examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right knee disability and right ear hearing loss due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will need to provide his complete service personnel and treatment records, including those from his period in the Florida Army National Guard.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to May 5, 2010, meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable evaluations for his service-connected right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations to assess the current severity of these disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee DJD, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are related to his military service. The claims for these conditions have been granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability and right testicular cyst excision, finding that the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee lateral collateral ligament instability and traumatic arthritis, left knee, with arthroscopic scars have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for anxiety disorder and a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee due to the need for additional evidence. The Veteran must be provided with new VA examinations for his left knee and anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded two issues: entitlement to service connection for an upper back disorder and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected right knee disorder, as well as the etiology of his back disability.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and higher ratings for hypertension and lumbar disability have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current VA examinations do not reflect the severity of his service-connected disabilities and therefore, new examinations are needed to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, right knee DJD, and right knee LOE were denied as the effective dates cannot be earlier than October 3, 2011.,There is no new and material evidence to support a claim prior to October 3, 2011.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including left shoulder, right shoulder, low back, left elbow, right elbow, left hand, and right hand disabilities. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is also being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination findings.