Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left ankle arthritis is granted on an aggravation basis, and his left knee osteoarthritis is granted. The right knee meniscal tear is granted with a 30% disability rating, subject to flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to consider the Veteran's reports of continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that new VA examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, as the previous opinions were based on a lack of evidence in the service treatment records and did not adequately consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms during service.

The Veteran's claims for restoration of a 20 percent rating for lateral instability of the left knee and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding his need for aid in ambulation.

The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee and right knee instability are now rated at 20 percent each, effective October 13, 2016.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to August 29, 2012.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the August 2020 VA examination.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities due to new evidence received. However, it is determined that the Veteran did not incur an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left side rib disability was granted, but the claims for right knee and lumbar spine disabilities were denied.,The Board has remanded the issues regarding the right shoulder and low back pain disabilities due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are related to service, and the Board has granted service connection for these conditions. The decision on left foot pain and right foot pain is pending as it was remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various hip, knee, leg, spine, ankle, and foot disabilities due to inadequate opinions regarding their relationship to periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is rated at 10 percent, and a separate rating of 20 percent for the medial meniscus tear is granted.,An initial compensable rating for hypertension is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU due to these disabilities. The VA will need to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities and whether they are related to his active service or other conditions.

The Board has restored a 10 percent rating for left knee laxity, effective October 24, 2018. The issue of an increased rating for left knee laxity is added to the Veteran's appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and providing a medical opinion on the secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability evaluation for service-connected left ankle scars has been denied as the scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DCs 7801 and 7802.,The effective date for the award of a 20 percent disability evaluation for service-connected lumbosacral strain is set at June 26, 2018, as it was more than one year after the Veteran filed his claim.

Service connection is granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis, left knee strain, right knee strain, left ankle tendonitis, right ankle tendonitis, left hip trochanteric pain syndrome and iliopsoas bursitis/tendinitis, and right hip trochanteric pain syndrome and iliopsoas bursitis/tendinitis.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluation, service connection, and other issues due to insufficient evidence from previous examinations. The Veteran needs additional VA examinations to determine the current severity of his right knee condition, etiology of his sleep disorder, bilateral foot conditions, right ankle condition, and sinus condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to inconsistencies in the VA examiner's findings regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his bilateral knee disabilities, which may be related to service or secondary to a pre-existing condition.