Knee decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee limitation of flexion from July 30, 2012 is denied as the evidence shows noncompensable flexion greater than 45 degrees.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been reopened, and the Board has found new and material evidence to support reopening. Service connection is granted for tinnitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right shoulder disorder, and a bilateral knee disorder as there is no competent evidence of current disabilities or their onset in service.,The Veteran was not granted any increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his right knee disabilities have been denied. The RO found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for painful and limited flexion, limitation of extension, or degenerative changes with meniscus tear and lateral collateral ligament instability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and credible evidence shows that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred, linking his current symptoms to his in-service stressor.

The Veteran's right knee instability and patellofemoral syndrome with painful plica have been granted separate 20% ratings effective June 1, 2015.,The Veteran's limitation of extension of the right knee prior to August 7, 2019 has also been granted a 10% rating.,The Veteran's left knee disability remains at a 20% rating.

The Veteran's migraines are currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.,For his right knee disability, the Veteran is seeking an increased rating. The current rating of 10 percent does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's left knee condition is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion and instability, with the instability rating effective from October 22, 2018. The right ankle condition has a current rating of 10 percent.,Both conditions have been denied as there is no evidence to support ratings in excess of the assigned percentages.

Your petition to reopen the claim of service connection for chronic pain, bilateral elbows has been granted.,The petition to reopen your claims for service connection for chronic pain, bilateral knees and chronic pain, bilateral hips have been granted.

The Veteran's appeals for restoration of evaluations for his service-connected left knee and right knee disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal. The issue of whether the reduction in evaluation was proper remains pending.

The Veteran's left hip disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to November 3, 2015 and 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran's right knee sprain is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran's left knee strain is rated as 20 percent disabling prior to November 4, 2021 and 30 percent thereafter. The Veteran's left knee instability is rated as 20 percent disabling. The Veteran's right knee instability is rated as 10 percent disabling. The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) is currently rated as 40 percent disabling. The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy is rated as 20 percent disabling from November 4, 2021 and 30 percent disabling prior to that date. The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated as 50 percent disabling from November 4, 2021.,The Veteran's left hip disability has been rated based on the extent of limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee pain and back pain, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and a need for more thorough findings in compliance with Correia and Sharp standards.

The appeal for a compensable initial rating for bilateral hearing loss is dismissed. An initial rating of 10 percent, but no higher, for old well-healed scar on the left knee is granted. The appeals for service connection for left knee and back disorders are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding a right knee disorder and its relationship to service. Additional examination is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.,Specifically, he seeks service connection for a right hand condition and bilateral foot conditions. The Board has determined that new evidence supports reopening these claims.

Service connection for migraines is granted, and the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each since September 8, 2014.