Knee decisions — 2019

The Veteran's left knee sprain and lumbar strain have been rated at 10 percent each, effective January 28, 2009. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for these conditions.,The Veteran's sleep apnea has not met the criteria for a rating in excess of 50 percent, despite requiring use of a CPAP machine.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, to include as secondary to his service-connected hallux rigidus with arthritis, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as the evidence does not show any current disabilities related to active service.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are each rated at 20 percent, but separate ratings of 10 percent for arthritis have been granted.,Entitlement to a TDIU prior to August 31, 2010 has been granted with an effective date of that day.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a total right knee replacement prior to October 5, 2016 is being remanded due to insufficient information in the April 2016 VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his total disability due to individual unemployability is also being remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found no current diagnosis of a left knee disability or bilateral hearing loss, and concluded that the Veteran's tinnitus was not related to military noise exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to address new evidence and assertions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his right knee, left knee, and kidney conditions.

The Veteran's request to have VA declare his periorbital hyperpigmentation static and not likely to improve is denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee condition began during his active service and is related to his military duties, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right femoral fracture with right knee traumatic arthritis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and records from Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's appeals for higher initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hip and knee disabilities have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's appeals for effective dates earlier than May 22, 2012 for the grant of service connection for right and left hip disabilities and an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches have also been withdrawn.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is being reopened, and his left knee synovitis with symptomatic patellar chondromalacia rating is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's right knee disability prior to September 5, 2014 was rated at 10 percent and the claim for a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for bilateral pes planus from November 4, 2008 to September 29, 2015 is denied. The Veteran was granted a TDIU prior to September 17, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and that continuity of symptomatology had not been established. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a relationship between the current diagnoses and military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the May 2017 VA examiner's findings regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically concerning functional limitations during flare-ups and range of motion.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding no probative medical evidence that indicates the Veteran's current condition was incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and coagulation factor XII deficiency have been denied as the evidence does not support a current disability.,Service connection for the left knee disability has also been denied, with the Board finding that the Veteran currently does not have any compensable limitation of motion or instability.