Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for osteomyelitis and a separate 10 percent rating for instability. The appeal regarding the higher rating for osteomyelitis has been denied, while the appeal for the separate rating for instability has been granted.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is granted as service connected. The right knee and respiratory disabilities are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at a 10 percent for limitation of flexion, and a 20 percent rating is granted as of September 15, 2022, for limitation of extension.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequacies in previous examinations and inconsistencies in medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% from May 12, 2023. The Board has granted a higher rating for PTSD and remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, pelvic injury, and low back disability.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for the period prior to December 9, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's right knee strain has been rated at 30 percent since October 2022, reflecting the severity of his symptoms and disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right knee disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran is seeking higher ratings for his radiculopathy and flexion limitations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and corroborating in-service stressors.

The Veteran's tinnitus is related to noise exposure during active service.,The Veteran does not currently have a left ear hearing loss disability for VA benefits purposes.,A left knee disability was not manifest during active service and is not otherwise related to service.,A right shoulder disability was not manifest during active service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee disorders due to a need for additional medical inquiry, specifically regarding whether back disability caused or aggravated these knee disorders.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left and right knee traumatic arthritis has been denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or other criteria.

The Veteran's right knee disability prior to November 12, 2020, is rated at 30 percent for limitation of flexion. The Board denied a higher rating as the condition does not meet criteria for more than 30 degrees of flexion. A separate rating of 10 percent was granted for slight lateral instability.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety is granted as service-connected.,The right knee disability is not secondary to the service-connected left knee disability and thus denied.,An effective date of September 26, 2017, for a 30 percent rating for cluster headaches is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability related to his active service.

The Veteran's foot and knee disabilities have been granted effective dates of November 2, 2017.,The claim for service connection for malignant melanoma has been reopened due to new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the failure of VA to obtain all outstanding medical records from TRICARE at JB San Antonio Military Treatment Facility.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate September 2020 VA examination report, which did not reconcile the Veteran's reports of worsening pain with the rationale for the negative nexus opinion. The case is now being sent back for a new examination or medical opinion that properly addresses the medical history in this case.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including sleep apnea and various orthopedic conditions. The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to address the nature and etiology of a sleep disorder, as well as to clarify whether any increased ratings for certain knee and hip conditions are warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder impingement syndrome, complete rotator cuff tear, glenohumeral arthritis, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis. The Board also granted service connection for right knee disorder including right meniscus and ACL tear, instability, osteoarthritis, and chondromalacia.