Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 27, 2016 for the award of service connection for bilateral knee strain. The ratings for right and left knee strains in excess of 10% have been denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was rated at 10 percent, but the Board found no evidence of limitation to less than 60 degrees of forward flexion or combined range of motion less than 120 degrees. The right hip/femur disabilities were separately rated as 20 and 10 percent.,The Veteran's right knee strain was not evaluated for a higher rating, and the right hip scar did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to new evidence received since the final December 2015 rating decision. The Veteran's claims for hypertension, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right foot disorder, and left foot disorder are denied as there is no current disability at any point during the pendency of the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left and right knee conditions due to inadequate medical examination and opinion, which failed to consider the Veteran's lay statements and prior medical records indicating bilateral knee pain.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar and right knee disorders, finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disability, low back disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to procedural errors in previous decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, as well as his persistent depressive disorder that is secondary to these knee disabilities. The evidence supports a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of bilateral knee degenerative joint disease as the appellant requested withdrawal prior to a decision.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided are inadequate and requires additional opinions to address the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right knee, left knee, pelvic bone, head injury, left breast, costochondritis, jawbone, low back, neck, right ankle, right thumb, acne, scarring on the head, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's separate 10 percent ratings for right and left knee disabilities under Diagnostic Code 5257 have been restored, effective May 20, 2019. The RO also granted restoration of a separate 10 percent rating for chondromalacia patella in each knee, effective May 20, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and the temporary total rating for convalescence due to bilateral knee surgeries, finding no evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for various conditions have been dismissed.,The appeal for service connection for a right hip condition has also been dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip disorder, right hip disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus, bilateral hallux rigidus, and right foot degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck, back, left shoulder, right shoulder, left elbow, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The decision is based on direct service connection due to evidence of in-service injury and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of relevant evidence.

The Veteran's service connection for left knee scars was granted with an effective date of March 19, 2017. The RO also granted increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as entitlement to a TDIU, all with effective dates of September 16, 2020.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of right knee disability, left knee disability, and numbness of the right big toe due to lack of an appealable issue under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), finding that the Veteran's current DJD is related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left and right knee disabilities, as well as left and right heel disabilities due to a lack of proper medical examinations in prior decisions.