Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her back, left shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been denied. The current ratings of 20 percent are maintained.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, vision loss, and various musculoskeletal conditions have been denied. The Board found no new evidence to reopen the claim for bilateral hearing loss and concluded that there is no current disability for VA compensation purposes. For other conditions, the evidence did not establish a link between service and the claimed disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence and treatment records not having been considered by the AOJ.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle, right ankle, and back disabilities. The appeal regarding the right knee/leg and left knee disabilities is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disability, and a right hip disability have been denied as there is no evidence to support the contention that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for further VA examination and review of medical records.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of limitation of motion equivalent to or more severe than flexion limited to 60 degrees or extension limited to 10 degrees.,For his left knee instability, the Veteran's symptoms are best approximated as moderate recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, warranting a 20 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5257. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder as secondary to his service-connected right ankle and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's increased weightbearing on his left leg due to his service-connected right ankle and right knee disabilities resulted in wear and tear leading to chronic pain and degenerative joint disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's May 2019 VA Form 10182, which was improperly docketed under the AMA system, should be accepted as a timely Notice of Disagreement. The appeal will now proceed in the Legacy system where the Veteran can receive a Statement of the Case and have the opportunity to perfect his appeal by filing a VA Form 9 or opting into the AMA framework.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a left leg disability, previously claimed as weakness in bilateral legs is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, previously claimed as weakness in bilateral legs is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome has been reopened, and the Board is remanding his claims for an increased rating for thoracolumbar spine strain and TDIU due to back disability.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent for instability, but the initial ratings for other conditions remain denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a lack of prior formal or informal claims filed before April 24, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The right little finger fracture is not compensable, the right knee has a maximum schedular rating of 20 percent, and the left knee removal of symptomatic semilunar cartilage does not warrant an increase in rating.

The Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for instability of the left knee effective July 18, 2004.,The Veteran is also granted a 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage (meniscus) effective July 18, 2004. The TDIU was granted effective March 27, 2004.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, left knee condition, right knee condition, back condition, and sleep apnea are all found to be etiologically linked to his active-duty service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's migraine headaches, bilateral knee conditions (left and right), and back condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional development and evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disabilities. The claims for erectile dysfunction, increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and other issues are being remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain was granted an initial 20 percent rating prior to October 22, 2019. From that date onwards, a higher rating is denied.

Service connection for a fractured tooth root is granted, allowing outpatient dental treatment.,Right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is service-connected and rated at 50%.