Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right knee chondromalacia, instability, and osteoarthritis on an aggravation basis due to a preexisting condition that worsened during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations and opinions regarding service connection for eye, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle conditions due to pre-duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus was granted. The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for his left knee condition was denied.

The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis and pain are found to have manifested during active service, meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that his current condition is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and a need for an additional opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee condition.

The appeal concerning a higher evaluation for service-connected TBI has been withdrawn. The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, left hip condition, and right knee condition have all been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disabilities.

Right upper and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndromes, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis are granted.,Right hand disability is denied. Bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, sleep apnea, shin splints in both lower limbs, hallux valgus in both feet, and bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal heel spurs are all granted initial ratings or effective dates prior to July 27, 2021.,GERD is granted an initial rating of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted. The claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, right hip disorder, and right ankle disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's panic attacks and chest pain are attributable to his service-connected PTSD and heart disability, respectively. The symptomatology is already contemplated in the evaluations for those disabilities.,The Veteran's chronic headaches more nearly approximate characteristic prostrating attacks occurring on an average once a month over the last several months.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral knees and back conditions, prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective April 26, 2019.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for left shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis and strain, bilateral knee strain (claimed as right and left chronic knee pain), and bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or caused by service.,The claim for service connection for anxiety and depression secondary to tinnitus has been recharacterized but remains denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee arthroplasty, was incurred in or caused by service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's low back condition, left knee strain, right knee strain, and presbyopia are all granted service connection. The claim for increased evaluation of sarcoidosis is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee medial meniscus tear and left knee Baker's cyst, finding that both conditions are related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his active military service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted an increased rating of 60 percent, effective November 3, 2020. The earlier effective date for the 60 percent rating and the grant of service connection for right knee scars are also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee arthropathy and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disability was granted with an effective date of July 12, 2021. However, the claims for post-operative residuals of right knee meniscectomy and internal derangement of left knee without residuals are being remanded due to CUE motions.