Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, with the right knee instability rated at 20 percent and separate ratings for locking, pain, and joint effusion. The TDIU claim has also been granted.

The Board denied service connection for right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis, finding that the evidence did not support a link between current knee conditions and service.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea on a direct basis and remanded the cases of respiratory disability (other than sleep apnea), claimed as asthma, and right knee disability to include arthritis. The case is also remanded for an opinion regarding whether current sleep apnea is aggravated by service-connected migraines.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, and thoracolumbar spine disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability is being remanded for a medical opinion to determine if it is related to his service-connected bilateral knee and shin splint disabilities.

The claim of service connection for a low back disability (claimed as scoliosis) has been reopened, and the Veteran's left knee scars are denied an initial compensable rating.,VA is remanding the issue of whether the Veteran's low back disability is secondary to her service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis is denied as not related to service. Tinnitus was manifest during active service and granted service connection.

The Veteran's right hip arthritis and left knee instability are denied higher ratings. A separate 20 percent rating is granted for the left knee meniscal tear.,Service connection for a right knee disorder on secondary basis is remanded, and an effective date prior to August 12, 2018 for the award of a separate rating for left knee instability is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for left hip and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence does not support a nexus between these conditions and service. The claims are remanded due to missing STRs.,Service connection is denied as there is no persuasive medical evidence linking current left hip or right knee disabilities to in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain with degenerative arthritis due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral wrist disability and right knee disability due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand instructions. The examiner is required to consider the Veteran's lay statements and testimony regarding falls aboard the ship and progressive worsening over time, and provide an opinion on whether these factors are related to his current disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition, left shoulder condition, left knee condition, and allergic rhinitis. The VA will obtain relevant medical records and schedule the Veteran with examinations to determine if his conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 20 percent for a left knee strain post meniscal surgery, based on limited range of extension, was dismissed. The Veteran's claim for an initial 20 percent disability rating for a left knee meniscal tear and a separate 10 percent disability rating for recurrent subluxation or lateral instability of the left knee were granted.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of service-connected disorders. The earlier effective dates for various conditions have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the right knee and remanded the issue of a rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected sinusitis.

The Board has decided to remand several cases involving service connection for various joint and musculoskeletal disorders, as well as sleep apnea and inguinal hernia. The Veteran's claims are being returned due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate VA nexus opinions.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 10 percent disability ratings for left and right knee instability, finding that a single examination used to reduce these ratings was inadequate.

The Board denied service connection for migraine headaches, a lumbar spine disability (bulging disc), a right knee disability, residuals of a left knee injury, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of current disabilities or in-service injuries that could be linked to these conditions.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date is not warranted for the grant of a separate 10% rating for left knee instability, as there is no indication of such condition prior to the June 2018 VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further review due to inadequate VA examination opinions and procedural issues.