Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development and rating decisions on the issues of higher ratings for myofascial pain syndrome, right knee disability, and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disorder, right knee disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD (diagnosed depression), and a sleep disorder. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has remanded the appeal due to inadequate examination reports and further development is required.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the left knee disability and a need for additional records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after obtaining necessary information and an updated medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The left knee disability claim is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is found to be related to his service-connected back disability. The right knee and left knee disorders are not considered service connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee conditions, including osteoarthritis and a degenerative medial meniscus tear, are related to an in-service motor vehicle accident. The Veteran's complaints of continuous left knee pain since service have been considered credible.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disorder, left and right knee disorders, bilateral foot disorder, eye disorder (claimed as bilateral nerve damage of the eyes), and erectile dysfunction, have been denied. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disabilities and any necessary examinations for TDIU. The claims will be readjudicated after all development is completed.

The Veteran's right knee tendonitis with limitation of motion is currently rated at 10 percent, and his right knee instability warrants a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the updating of his claims file with any recent medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased schedular ratings for his left knee conditions were denied. However, the Board found that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities and granted TDIU. The extraschedular rating claim for a left knee condition was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a new VA examination to reassess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for a left knee disability.

The combined impact of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities has rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's right THA residuals are not deemed to be the result of carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA. Therefore, he is not entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for her service-connected right knee disability prior to August 29, 2005 and from October 1, 2006 to May 6, 2014.

The Board affirms the denial of service connection for a right below the knee amputation, but grants it based on secondary service connection due to a fall caused by his service-connected bilateral knee disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of a left knee condition and assigned him a 10 percent rating for right foot fracture residuals. The issues of service connection for left foot, right knee, and left hip conditions are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board found that the Veteran's right knee total replacement disability warranted a 30 percent rating beginning on June 1, 2016. The appeal for higher ratings was denied.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and right knee disability have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since February 5, 2015. The Board has granted TDIU based on the schedular rating criteria.