Knee Board decisions

Service connection is granted for allergic rhinitis, degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee osteoarthritis/degenerative joint disease, and osteochondritis dissecans to include osteochondral fracture right ankle.,An effective date prior to December 8, 2017, for service connection for left knee disability and right ankle disability is dismissed.

The Veteran's mood disorder is granted as it was caused by the medications taken for his service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).,Service connection for left and right knee disabilities is denied due to lack of evidence showing a chronic disability in service or within one year after separation.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip condition secondary to flat feet, BLE radiculopathy (right knee) and left ankle condition (claimed as left ankle fracture residuals). The Veteran's subjective reports were not supported by objective medical evidence.,Service connection was also denied for BLE radiculopathy secondary to a lumbosacral strain. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any current disability or persistent symptoms of BLE radiculopathy.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeal for recognition of his August 2, 1994, correspondence as a valid and timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding the June 16, 1994, rating decision. The issues of service connection for various disabilities remain pending and must be remanded to allow for proper procedural development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) regarding the denial of service connection for a left knee disability was received, and thus the appeal is granted.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for right hip disability, left hip disability, and right knee disability due to new and relevant evidence received since the prior rating decisions. The Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities are found to be related to her military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, to include social anxiety, have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left achilles tendonitis and peripheral neuropathy of the left leg is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee joint osteoarthritis is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, deviated septum, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and allergic rhinitis are all granted due to exposure to environmental hazards in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent disability ratings for left and right knee disabilities are granted.,The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the minimum compensable level of 50 percent, with no higher rating granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in some cases, requiring further examination and medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral flat feet, left ankle condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, right ankle condition, and right leg condition are all granted as service connection is established based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis (claimed as left shoulder condition) and right shoulder strain (claimed as right shoulder condition) are also granted as service connection is established based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, requiring VA examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bone disease, hemorrhoids, neck arthritis, back arthritis, bilateral hand arthritis, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral ankle arthritis have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal. The claim for hypertension has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's current left knee disability to his active service, specifically his in-service treatment for a left knee MCL strain on May 21, 2003. The Veteran is requested to undergo another VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his left knee disability.

The Veteran's acid reflux is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's bilateral shin splints are granted as they began during active service and are related to the time in service running on hard surfaces.,The Veteran's bone spurs bilateral, left toe condition, and right toe condition are granted as they all began during active service and are related to plantar fasciitis from high impact activities.,The Veteran's right knee condition is granted as it is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.,The Veteran's right toe condition (previously denied as right foot plantar fasciitis, resolved) is granted as it began during active service and is related to the time in service from high impact activities.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spondylosis, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The Veteran's conditions are deemed to be directly related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted service connection based on direct evidence, and the rating assigned is 10 percent.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee degenerative arthritis and a compensable rating for his right knee limitation of extension.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected right hand, left hand, right knee, and left knee conditions are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examinations conducted in February 2021. The examinations did not provide sufficient detail regarding the frequency, duration, characteristics, severity, and extent of functional impairment during flare-ups or repeated use.

The Veteran's left knee strain was granted an initial 30 percent rating from December 19, 2016, to the present. The condition is characterized by limitation of flexion limited to 20 degrees.