Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee replacements, as well as degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, were denied. The evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the other issues related to PTSD and psychiatric disorders, low back disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to incomplete or inadequate evidence.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability as secondary to a left knee disability, and low back disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to service or manifest within one year of service.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis, left ankle osteoarthritis, right ankle osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee strain are all found to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The effective dates for the grants of service connection are not earlier than November 1, 2008.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not rated higher than noncompensable, his right knee disability did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to July 16, 2019 or 30 percent from September 1, 2020, and he failed to establish service connection for chronic bronchitis (COPD), fungal infection, left knee disorder, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, left elbow disorder, or diabetes.

The Veteran's right knee disability, specifically patellofemoral syndrome, was evaluated at a 10 percent rating. The Board found that the evidence did not show ankylosis or other significant functional limitations warranting a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for asthma, left knee condition, right knee condition, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to her symptoms being mild or transient.,Both left and right tibial stress fractures are currently rated at 10 percent each under DC 5260/5003.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for right ankle impairment, back impairment, and right knee impairment. Service connection is granted for sinusitis and left wrist strain.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for lumbar strain and cervical strain status post cervical fusion, as well as his claims of service connection for left knee strain, ganglion cyst excision without residuals, and residuals, right bicep muscle injury have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and OSA have been granted on a limited basis due to the submission of new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right elbow disorder has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal during the January 2024 hearing.,Both bilateral pes planus and right knee arthritis have been conceded by the RO. The Board is bound by these findings.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability and right knee osteoarthritis are both rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee disorders, as well as CFS, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The initial evaluation for IBS remains denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn their appeal.

The Veteran's left knee strain is rated at 10 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for instability is granted. A new 30 percent rating for migraines is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for Multiple Sclerosis, Right Knee Strain, Mild Facet Arthrosis of the Lumbar Spine, and Optic Neuritis. The rating assigned is 80 percent for each condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination, which did not consider the Veteran's consistent statements of bilateral knee pain since service.

The Veteran's headaches are granted service connection. The remaining issues of psychiatric, knee, sinusitis, and upper respiratory disabilities are remanded for further development.