Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability, finding that it is etiologically related to his active service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion and extension was denied. The evidence did not support a rating in excess of the current 10 percent assigned under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings of 20 percent each, effective from September 9, 2016. The conditions are rated under the criteria for degenerative arthritis with dislocated cartilage.

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is determined to be secondary to his service-connected Right Knee Disability and Psychiatric Disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and service connection for PTSD. The left and right knees are currently rated as 10% disabling each, but the Veteran asserts entitlement to higher ratings.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have been granted a 20% rating for the period beginning June 11, 2021. The left and right knees are rated separately.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a left knee disability, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities, as well as left knee and right ankle disabilities secondary to these conditions. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and cardiovascular disabilities have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, foot, and knee conditions. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,There are no medical opinions linking any of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's OSA is related to service and granted. The Board found that the right knee pain, left knee pain, and patellofemoral pain syndrome (right knee) are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasoning in the examiner's opinions regarding service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran is seeking direct and secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and thus, both claims for an increased rating for left knee disability and service connection for sleep apnea are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's right knee disability, post-total knee replacement, is currently rated at 30 percent since April 1, 2014. The appeal remains on hold for further development.,The Veteran's left ankle sprain and cervical spine disability are not entitled to increased evaluations.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been characterized by pain and degenerative changes, but the limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, extension limited to 10 degrees or more, favorable ankylosis of the knee at full extension or in slight flexion between 0 and 10 degrees, and recurrent subluxation or instability that is 'moderate' in nature have not been shown. As such, entitlement to increased ratings for his left knee disabilities has been denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and lack of nexus opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran contends that his left knee disability is caused by an altered gait due to service-connected toe disabilities, but no clear opinion was provided.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension but denied claims for lumbosacral strain (low back disability) and right knee joint osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a link to active service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hand joint disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left hand disability due to his withdrawal. The remaining issues have been remanded, including back, neck, right shoulder, right knee, right ankle, and left hip disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his previously denied claims for service connection for left eye disability, headaches, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings for her service-connected bilateral knee disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further examination.