Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal to increase the ratings for his bilateral knee and back disabilities has been dismissed due to a withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal disability and left knee meniscus disorder are each granted a separate 20 percent rating before the specified dates.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete VA examinations and a need for additional evidence, particularly from Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's headaches, cervical spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further evaluation due to the possibility of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's rotoscoliosis of the lumbar spine and degenerative disc disease L4-S1 with spinal stenosis, right knee strain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are all granted as service connected.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The appeal for service connection for sleep disturbance, including sleep apnea is dismissed. The rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with other specified depressive disorder is denied and the case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total disability rating based on convalescence due to surgery for left ganglion cyst removal is denied. The Board also remanded the claims for service connection, ratings in excess of 10 percent for left ankle and lumbar spine disabilities, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for pes planus, left.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was granted. He is now entitled to a 10 percent rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome prior to February 24, 2015, and a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability prior to September 15, 2023. The Veteran also received TDIU from August 10, 2022.

The appeal of the GERD claim is dismissed as moot because a March 2023 rating decision granted service connection for GERD effective August 10, 2022.,The tinnitus claim has been reopened and granted. Service connection for tinnitus is established based on in-service noise exposure and current symptoms.,Service connection for periostitis (claimed as shin splints secondary to left knee strain) is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorders, is granted. The Board finds the VA examiner's opinions along with Dr. A.A.'s positive nexus opinion persuasive in granting service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating for right knee strain, as well as service connection for lower back condition, cervical arthritis with spondylotic changes, and left arm neuropathy are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the February 2019 remand directives as it pertains to evaluating motion loss. The Veteran's bilateral knees have been rated 10 percent disabling for painful motion.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of intervertebral disc syndrome and left knee osteoarthritis due to the appellant's withdrawal.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral heel spurs, and a right knee disability due to new and material evidence. The claims are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to issues related to hearing loss, heart disability including CAD, hypertension (HTN), respiratory disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The effective dates of any potential grants of service connection are not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (patella femoral), and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been denied. The effective dates for the awards of service connection for these conditions are also denied.,An additional VA examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his psychiatric condition.

The Board found the Appellant's discharge from service was due to willful and persistent misconduct, which bars him from receiving VA benefits. The appeal is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability and a bilateral knee disability, both found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right and left foot disabilities.,Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss as there is no current evidence of a hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, and a right knee disorder due to lack of current diagnoses in some cases.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IBS, and other conditions, prevented him from engaging in substantially gainful employment for which his education and occupational experience would otherwise qualify him. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis from June 19, 2014, to April 20, 2015.