Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities, as well as the TDIU claim prior to December 28, 2011. The RO is instructed to obtain a retrospective opinion addressing the Veteran's bilateral knee functional loss to flare-ups.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it is presumed to have been incurred during his military service due to exposure to hazardous noise and acoustic trauma.,The issue of service connection for hearing loss remains pending, requiring the AOJ to obtain relevant medical records and provide an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities were denied in a December 2006 rating decision. The Veteran filed new claims on July 14, 2011, which were denied again in November 2015. The Board found the December 2017 VA Form 9 was timely received, granting service connection for bilateral knee and ankle disabilities effective March 19, 2018. The Veteran's claims are now remanded due to a lack of adequate examination regarding his bilateral knee flare-ups.

The Board has replaced the current 10 percent rating for service-connected left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints (left knee disability) under Diagnostic Code 5261, with a 10 percent rating. A higher rating is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis, as well as right external popliteal neuropathy.

The appeal was dismissed for issues related to duty-to-assist errors and differences of opinion, while service connection for left foot disorder and right foot disorder was denied. The claims for migraines, bilateral knee disorders, PTSD, and TDIU were remanded.

The veteran has withdrawn the appeal for service connection for anxiety, depression, left shoulder, right ankle, and right knee.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus has been denied as the evidence does not support a higher evaluation.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no current diagnosis or evidence that the Veteran had a hearing loss disability at any time during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee degenerative joint diseases, finding that her symptoms do not warrant higher ratings based on limitation of motion. The issue of service connection for bilateral pes planus is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of left and right knee conditions due to a duty to assist error, requiring a VA opinion on whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected degenerative arthritis with intervertebral disc degeneration and strain, lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded several claims due to duty-to-assist errors, including the need to obtain SSA records related to the Veteran's disability benefits application and earnings history.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support a higher than 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and PTSD. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal regarding the reduction of the Veteran's right knee recurrent subluxation rating from 20 percent to 10 percent and discontinuance of DEA benefits is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied in the May 2013 decision due to a lack of evidence of current disability and no objective evidence of a chronic respiratory condition.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disorder and a back disorder, leading to their remand. The AOJ will consider these claims on the merits.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a causal relationship to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability due to the absence of evidence of a current disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left leg disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to procedural errors in obtaining necessary medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim for service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease with meniscus tear and chondromalacia patella, finding that no new and relevant evidence was submitted since the last denial.