Knee Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the right knee disability claim, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The lumbosacral strain claim is denied, and the hearing loss claim is also denied.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his acquired psychiatric disorder and right knee degenerative joint disease and meniscal tear to include chondromalacia were denied. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder was maintained at 70 percent, while the rating for the right knee condition was increased to 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her knee conditions are being remanded due to the need for an adequate VA examination that includes use of a goniometer.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will need an in-person examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records. The issues of TBI, psychiatric disability, sleep impairment, headache, vestibular disorder, shoulder disabilities, knee, ankle, foot, and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded all claims for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional evidence.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of flexion are granted, subject to the laws and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits.,Separate disability ratings of 10 percent but no higher for right and left knee instability are also granted.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including anxiety, back disability, neck disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, head injury, and right ear hearing loss. The effective date of the decisions was January 12, 2022.

The Board has denied service connection for GERD, an acquired psychiatric disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and back disability as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been rated at 70 percent since April 5, 2019. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and knee conditions.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it only showed painful noncompensable limitation of motion.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis for the Veteran's claimed left knee, right knee, or stomach conditions. The VA examinations and STRs do not support the presence of chronic disabilities at any time during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing disability for VA compensation purposes.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand and right hand disabilities are denied as there is no current diagnosis of these disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not result in an employment handicap, thus he is not eligible for VR&E services.

The Board denied service connection for a gastrointestinal disability and a skin disability, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and evidence. The issues include left knee, left hip, and right wrist disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial 20% disability rating for bilateral dry eye with pinguecula and conjunctivitis was granted, but the other claims were denied.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as there is no evidence of a pending unadjudicated claim prior to July 12, 2022. The effective date for the grant of TDIU is set at July 12, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another individual, as they cause her to require assistance with feeding, preparing meals, dressing, grooming, toileting, managing medication, and attending to daily needs.