Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to his lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, headaches, and TDIU. The Veteran is also requested to provide updated VA treatment records and employment information.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hearing loss was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The Board also remanded cases regarding initial ratings for right knee DJD and PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability has been reopened and granted. A 10 percent rating is assigned for the left elbow scar, effective from when the decision was made. The claims of increased ratings for left knee and left elbow disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are necessary to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disorders, cervical spine disorder, and Berger’s disease with renal stones due to the Veteran's contention of worsening symptoms.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding ratings for left wrist ganglion cyst post-operative, right wrist ganglion cyst, and left ankle fracture. The remaining issues of a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with chondromalacia (left knee disability), a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee chrondromalacia (right knee disability), and a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease (DJD) are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disability. A new examination is required to determine if a diagnosis exists, whether any diagnosed condition is related to service, and to obtain any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted as secondary to his service-connected amputation of great, second, and third toes. The left foot scars are rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 7804. The right knee surgical scar is also rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including hearing loss, DJD of the right knee, limitation of extension of the right knee, left knee disorder, bone disorder, left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left thigh disorder, right thigh disorder, left hip disorder, right hip disorder, neck muscle spasms, visual defect, hypertension, GERD, brain tumor, peripheral neuropathy and polyneuropathy, seizure disorder, and other conditions. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional evidence or clarification.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right shoulder pain, cervical spine pain, and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome due to a lack of VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, and requests that VA attempts to obtain any outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is productive of painful motion limited to, at worst, 95 degrees of flexion and subjective mild instability symptoms. The Board finds a separate rating of 10 percent for instability is warranted.,The Veteran’s degenerative changes of the lower back with new onset facet fracture are productive of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine of 30 degrees or less, warranting an initial rating of 40 percent. The Board finds no higher rating is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of both the left and right knees, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic knee disorder during active service or within one year of separation. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's bilateral knee arthritis was less likely as not caused by his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation of left knee disability, service connection for back and right knee disabilities, and a right distal femur fracture. The claims are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability, which includes residuals of fracture and traumatic arthritis following total knee arthroplasty, is being remanded due to the need for new VA examinations that comply with Correia v. McDonald.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have increased in severity since the last examination, and he should be provided a VA examination to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's appeals on right knee, right ankle, and trouble sleeping disabilities were dismissed. The appeal for tinnitus was granted.

The Veteran's initial claim of service connection for hypogonadism was granted, but the Board denied an increased rating beyond 10 percent. The issues of service connection for back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left ankle disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his low back disability, left knee arthritis (limitation of extension and flexion), and total left knee replacement was denied. The VA found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.