Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right knee is proximately due to his service-connected left knee total replacement, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a compensation and pension examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee disability. The examination must include range of motion testing for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, as well as right knee strain. The evidence does not establish a medical nexus between an in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial compensable disability rating for tibia and fibula, knee disabilities, and pseudofolliculitis barbae due to increased severity since the last VA examination. The Veteran will be provided with a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and finds that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to his in-service diagnosis. The issues of increased rating for Left Ankle Disability and cause and aggravation of Right Knee Disability by Left Ankle Disability have been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right hip strain and right knee degenerative joint disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knees are remanded. The claim for service connection for a low back disability is reopened, but the issue remains pending and will be addressed after obtaining additional evidence. The Veteran's low back disability may potentially be related to an in-service incident.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have caused him to be unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claim for varicose veins is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for her left knee disability prior to September 15, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during active service and are related to a qualifying chronic disability. Other gastrointestinal issues will be addressed in the remand section.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to clarify the nature and etiology of his claimed ankle and knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing right knee disability was aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing pages in the Veteran's appeal and incomplete SSA records. The issues of service connection for various disorders remain under review.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining outstanding VA treatment records and SSA records. A current VA audiological examination will also be scheduled to assess the severity of his bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of gout, secondary to his left knee disorder is withdrawn. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the criteria for a TDIU rating due to his service-connected disabilities and nonservice-connected conditions. His combined disability rating is 80 percent, meeting the threshold for consideration of a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current PFB is a continuation of the same diagnosis noted in service, and thus grants service connection for PFB.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and right shoulder disabilities were denied. The Board found that the current ratings adequately reflected the severity of the conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as she withdrew her appeal prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's right total knee arthroplasty is currently rated at 30 percent disabling. The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for slight instability prior to September 24, 2014 and an increased 20 percent rating for moderate instability thereafter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims file is incomplete and requires additional development, including obtaining missing records and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be remanded for these actions.