Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining private medical records from specific providers.

The Veteran's tinnitus did not manifest in active service or to a compensable degree within the first post-active service year, and such disability is not etiologically related to service. The Board finds that the evidence does not show that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss and/or left ear hearing loss are related to noise exposure in service.

The Board denied a separate compensable rating for instability of the left knee, finding that there was no evidence of subluxation or lateral instability after November 17, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot, back, and right knee disabilities. The VA examiner found that these conditions were less likely caused by or related to his military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are each rated at 20 percent since March 21, 2005.,The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 30 percent since March 21, 2005.

The Veteran is entitled to a TDIU from October 14, 1997 through September 25, 2003, including on an extra-schedular basis prior to July 14, 2003.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not related to his military service or any of his service-connected disabilities.,His claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine and bilateral knee conditions are denied as the VA examinations were missed without good cause.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disorders are not related to his active service and denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease and laxity are currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling each. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher evaluation for either condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by pain and stiffness, was rated at 10 percent prior to April 12, 2012.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 40 percent, and his sarcoidosis is service-connected due to asbestos exposure in service.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to service. The Veteran's complaints were not supported by objective medical findings.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected left knee degenerative arthritis, effective from March 14, 2017. The issue of entitlement to an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was withdrawn by the Veteran prior to the decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected right knee total knee arthroplasty is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and attempting to obtain records from a private orthopedic clinic. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities will be examined to determine their likely etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA and private medical records, as well as a new VA examination of his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for various service-connected disabilities has been withdrawn. The Veteran is now granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 29, 2010 to February 26, 2013.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for patellofemoral joint syndrome of both knees and lumbar spine disability, finding no in-service injury or disease involving his knees. The Board also found that there is insufficient competent medical evidence to establish a nexus between his current knee conditions and his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including residual symptoms of effusion from removal of semilunar cartilage and painful limitation of motion, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted for the period on appeal.

The Veteran's back disability is not related to his military service and was not caused by or aggravated by his service connected pes planus. The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dysthymia and anxiety disorder, bilateral pes planus, tension headaches, degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and degenerative joint disease of the left knee, preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.,The Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities that are rated at 100% combined, meeting the criteria for TDIU.