Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's initial 30 percent rating for a right knee disability is granted for the period prior to February 20, 2023 and an increased 30 percent rating since then.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to determine if they are related to his service-connected back and radiculopathy disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for a thorough VA examination.

Service connection for low back pain, diagnosed as degenerative disc changes is granted. Service connection for lumbar pelvic dysfunction is denied. Entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition and a right knee condition are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate or incomplete opinions in previous VA examinations and evaluations.

Service connection is granted for multilevel degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, with spondylosis and IVDS, bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, and left hip degenerative arthritis.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to be related to his current conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee condition prior to May 29, 2012 and from August 1, 2013 are both denied.

The Veteran's hypertension and right knee strain and chondromalacia have been granted service connection.,An effective date of March 12, 2008 for the award of service connection for DDD of the lumbar spine has also been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied in part. The left knee strain is rated at 10% for limitation of extension and flexion, while the left ankle disability (prior to April 10, 2017) remains rated at 10%. However, since April 10, 2017, a rating of 30% has been granted for ankylosis of the left ankle.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the issues by the Veteran. The remaining issues are remanded and will be addressed further.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right ankle, right hand, and right wrist disorders due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left hip disabilities due to concerns raised in Joint Motion for Remand (JMR2).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left ankle conditions due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between his current disabilities and service.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine and left knee disabilities, finding that the current conditions did not have their onset during or within one year after service and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The VA examiners provided opinions against the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and instability have been granted increased ratings, with the effective date for the increase in rating being January 12, 2022.,An earlier effective date of March 20, 2015, has also been granted for the service connection of left knee instability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as gastrointestinal disorder (GERD), due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service or service-connected disabilities. The remand also includes a request for an opinion on whether obesity caused by service-connected disabilities is a substantial factor in causing or aggravating the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, right wrist, and left shoulder disorders due to a lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an acquired deformity of the right shin, a right ankle disability with pain, and a left knee disability manifested by swelling and flare-ups due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is advised to provide medical records and attend VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his right knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a retrospective medical opinion and consideration of evidence related to employment.