Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the issues related to increased disability ratings for right knee disabilities due to incomplete VA examination in June 2022. A new VA examination is needed to assess current severity and functional impairment of the right knee.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, as prior examinations have been inconsistent in assessing its nature.

The Board has denied service connection for various knee, back, neck, shoulder, and foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for flat feet, right knee disability (including as secondary to service-connected left knee osteoarthritis), and back disability due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and service.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran's current disabilities are not shown to have originated during service or be related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability. The claims for right foot, left shoulder, lower back, and left foot conditions are remanded as there is insufficient evaluation in the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for thoracolumbar spine disorder, neurological disorder (claimed as nerve damage), and right knee disorder due to new evidence received since the final denial in June 1997.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for right total knee arthroplasty with scar was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show limitation of range of motion that would permit a higher evaluation.,Service connection for Meniere's disease, lung neoplasm with surgery and residuals, and vocal damage were all denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions being related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain status post arthroscopic surgery (limitation of flexion) and limitation of extension due to persistent painful symptomatology that inhibits his ability to stand or sit for even short periods of time. The case is being referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of bilateral ankles, chronic degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with bulging disc, and osteoarthritis of bilateral knees. The decision is based on evidence in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service rheumatic fever.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the nature of his service connection.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for cold weather injury residuals of the bilateral hands is denied.,Compensable initial ratings for right and left shin splints are denied.,Service connection for residuals of an injury to the tailbone, neck disability, left shoulder disability, back disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right foot plantar fasciitis, insomnia, and vertigo is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for minimal patellar spur of the left knee, limitation of extension and a rating in excess of 10 percent for minimal patellar spur of the left knee, limitation of flexion due to inconsistencies in previous examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation prior to October 22, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that symptoms began during service and have been continuous since then. The decision is based on the presumption of service connection for arthritis under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(b).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted. The remaining claims have been denied or are being remanded.,Service connection was not established for the following conditions: back disorder, psychiatric disorder, bilateral eye disorder, respiratory disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right upper extremity disorder, left upper extremity disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. Hypertension is currently under review.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee degenerative arthritis are granted. The claim for left hand CTS is remanded due to the need for an opinion regarding its relationship to her service-connected right hand CTS.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of bilateral hip and knee disabilities, as secondary to a service-connected lumbar spine disability. The remand requires an additional VA examination to address the etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been granted. The claims for right hip disability, right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, and PTSD are all remanded due to insufficient examination reports.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome and instability are rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, with no higher ratings granted. The left knee patellofemoral syndrome is also rated at the maximum allowable.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for scar, status post TENS unit placement has been dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal.,The Veteran's fibromyalgia is currently rated at 40 percent from December 11, 2019. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted due to lack of evidence showing episodic exacerbations or refractory symptoms.