Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a respiratory disability due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee meniscus conditions have resulted in frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion. A rating of 30 percent is granted for each knee.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, COPD, OSA secondary to PTSD, and other disabilities have been granted. The appeal is not about service connection for exposure-related conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee patellar tendonitis are related to his service, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. As a result, the appeal for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for major depressive disorder is dismissed as the RO granted service connection for a persistent depressive disorder with anxious distress and an insomnia disorder.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is denied. The evidence does not show limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or more, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The Veteran's claim for tinnitus is granted as the evidence supports that his tinnitus had its onset in service.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral plantar fasciitis (claimed as 'flat feet') is denied. The VA examiner found no clear and specific etiology of the condition, attributing it to a prolonged period without complaint after service.,The Veteran's claims for left shoulder condition, left knee condition, bilateral ankle condition, and left hip condition are all denied. No evidence supports their onset or relationship to service.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is remanded.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder impingement syndrome, and right hip condition are all remanded.,The Veteran's claims for a hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are both remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all listed conditions have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted an initial rating of 30 percent, but no higher.

The Board has granted a separate, 10 percent disability rating for right knee instability. The issue of an increased rating for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is remanded.

The Veteran's total right knee replacement is rated at a 60 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the April 2019 decision. The rating is based on chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various orthopedic disabilities, including lumbar spine, cervical spine, bilateral foot, right knee, left knee, right hip, and left hip disabilities. The reasons include needing to clarify the Veteran's service in December 1995 and obtaining missing VA treatment records.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee arthroscopy residuals and left knee strain, finding that the Veteran's current knee disabilities are at least as likely as not related to her active service.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative meniscal pathology is granted as service connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The issues of cervical strain, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis, right knee strain, left knee strain, right finger joint condition with rheumatoid and stiffness (right finger condition), left finger joint condition with rheumatoid and stiffness (left finger condition), right wrist rheumatoid arthritis (right wrist condition), left wrist rheumatoid arthritis (left wrist condition), left ankle condition, cardiac condition, and skin condition have been remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis has been granted. The Board found that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is at least as likely as not related to service.

Service connection was denied for various conditions including bilateral hearing loss, left and right knee disorders, psoriatic arthritis, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), torn scapula nerves in both upper extremities, neck disorder, low back disorder, and deviated septum.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring further examination and opinion regarding service connection for a knee disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and effective date were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including traumatic brain injury and other conditions such as narcolepsy, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic sinusitis, tension headaches, right shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder strain with shoulder impingement syndrome, lower back strain, cervical neck strain, bilateral plantar fasciitis, tinnitus, right 4th metacarpal fracture with scar, allergic rhinitis, shin splints of the left and right lower extremities, right eye strabismus, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment for the appeal period prior to August 13, 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, including degenerative joint disease. The decision finds that the pre-existing right knee condition existed prior to service and was aggravated by in-service trauma.