Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% rating throughout the entire period of the claim, and service connection for other conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee DJD was denied. A separate 20 percent rating is granted for left knee locking, pain, and joint effusion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions. The new examinations are needed to address the nature and etiology of the claimed disabilities, including knee, back, and hip conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted initial separate ratings of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5003-5260 from December 31, 2008 to June 19, 2016 for degenerative arthritis of the left knee status post anterior cruciate ligament repair and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5003-5260 from June 20, 2016 for degenerative arthritis, status post anterior cruciate ligament repair, left knee was denied. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5003-5260 from June 20, 2016 for degenerative arthritis of the right knee was granted. The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 20 percent from June 20, 2016 to July 10, 2017 for degenerative arthritis, right knee, and in excess of 10 percent thereafter under Diagnostic Code 5257 was denied.

The Veteran's initial rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome was increased to 10 percent in July 2014. The Board has determined that the evidence does not support a higher rating, as the Veteran’s range of motion is not limited to an extent warranting such a rating.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder and right knee disorder, including as secondary to the left knee disorder. The Veteran appealed this decision.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues related to PTSD, elbow disorders, back disorder, hip disorders, knee disorders, and foot disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and examination regarding a left knee disorder. The Veteran's service connection claim is pending.

All initial ratings of 10 percent for left and right foot plantar fasciitis, low back disability, and right shoulder disability are granted from November 1, 2007. The rating of 10 percent for the right knee disability is also granted.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability was rated at 20 percent from November 1, 2007 to April 25, 2016 and then dropped back down to 10 percent after that date.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities, including arthritis. The cervical spine disability issue is remanded due to lack of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for a new examination to assess its current severity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render them unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

Service connection is granted for left knee arthritis and OSA, with the latter being secondary to PTSD.,Hypertension service connection is denied due to lack of a nexus between current condition and service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, hip, and low back disabilities, finding that they were not incurred or aggravated during active duty service. The Board also found no link between these conditions and his service-connected right leg fracture.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for left shoulder disability is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease and the absence of continuity of symptomatology since separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right knee limitation of extension was denied, but the Board granted a separate 20 percent rating for right knee lateral instability as of September 23, 2005.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee conditions, including degenerative arthritis and tendinitis, are related to service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his condition had its onset during service or is related to service.,Claims for increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis with shin splints are denied. The Veteran’s knees have never been shown to meet the criteria for higher than 10 percent ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.,A separate 10 percent rating is granted for left knee instability effective July 8, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right knee condition is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the November 2018 VA examination in addressing functional loss and flare-ups.