Knee Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues on appeal, including reductions in rating and severance of SMC.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10% for limitation of motion and a separate 20% rating for instability. The Board has granted the 20% rating for instability, finding moderate instability warranting such a rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right wrist strain residuals.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including a meniscal tear and anterior cruciate ligament tear, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board denied an increased rating for the overall right knee disability but granted a separate evaluation of 20 percent for frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion into the joint.

The Veteran's heart condition, supraventricular tachycardia, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating.,An initial disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's migraine headache disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for a TDIU. The issues are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee chondromalacia with arthritis, as well as depression secondary to his knees and ulcerative colitis, are granted. The claim for depression is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including painful limitation of motion and limited extension, is granted with a 10 percent evaluation. The meniscal tear is also granted at 10 percent.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including the residuals of a status post right patella fracture and right knee injury, was evaluated at 10 percent disabling. The Board found that the flexion limitation did not reach 30 degrees to warrant an increased rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability in service or within the presumptive period following discharge. The Board also found that any current disabilities were not caused by service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the severity and functional loss of the Veteran's left knee and low back disabilities. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders due to conflicting opinions from a June 2021 VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient medical evidence and failure of the Veteran to respond to VA examination requests.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chondromalacia of the right patella with chronic laxity of the MCL and DJD of the right knee have been denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria.,There is no indication of moderate instability, which would allow for a higher rating under the old diagnostic criteria.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed without prejudice due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claim for service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was granted a 20 percent rating effective July 1, 2017. His left knee limitation of flexion is also rated at 20 percent from the same date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 14, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's statements regarding injuries to his bilateral hands and right knee during active duty training are credible. However, further examination is needed to determine if there is a nearly 50 percent probability or greater that current diagnoses of bilateral hand degenerative arthritis and right knee status post partial knee replacement are etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion and the need for updated VA and private treatment records. The Veteran's right knee disability is related to his active duty service, including a right knee injury during INACDUTRA.