Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease, status post meniscectomy surgery is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis with residuals of right knee anterior cruciate ligament repair has been rated at 10 percent since June 23, 2015. The current rating is denied as the symptoms do not warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and opinions regarding his lower back, right knee, left calf, and left ankle conditions. The issues are related to service connection for these conditions as secondary to a service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's tension/reoccurring headaches are found to be related to an in-service head injury.,The Veteran's right knee disorder with arthroplasty and total knee replacement is found to be related to a service-connected right knee disorder.,The Veteran's left knee degenerative osteoarthritis is found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder.,The Veteran's right ankle instability is found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder.,The Veteran's left ankle instability is found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected back and knee disabilities caused wear and tear on his clothing, leading to the grant of annual clothing allowances for his braces in 2012.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as hearing loss. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied service connection for all claimed disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any of these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for left testicle varicocele and left knee scars must be remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was denied, but reopened due to new and material evidence. The claim for migraines was also reopened.,Service connection for migraines has been granted as they are related to the service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of motion or instability/subluxation.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's right knee disabilities, including degenerative joint disease with patellofemoral syndrome and instability, are being evaluated further.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for degenerative arthritis, right knee (claimed as a right leg condition) was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without showing good cause. As a result, the claim is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, sciatica secondary to the lumbar spine condition, and residuals of a right hand ring finger laceration. The Veteran's conditions are related to parachute jumps during active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for compensable ratings and service connection due to new evidence being submitted after the last decision. The RO will review this evidence and issue a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disorder, migraine headaches (secondary to hearing loss and tinnitus), and unspecified depressive disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to military service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the relationship of the Veteran's claimed conditions to service, including whether they are related to an undiagnosed illness or a Gulf War condition. The claims for vertigo and ankle/knee conditions are being remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective November 3, 2015.,A higher rating for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right knee and arthritis of the left knee, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and instability, has been rated at 20 percent since March 6, 2009. The decision grants a rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's service-connected left knee instability.