Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with osteoarthritis and left knee patella recurrent instability/subluxation have been denied as his conditions do not warrant a rating higher than 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, left shoulder bicipital tendonitis, major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder (NOS), left knee tendonitis, and cervical spine intervertebral disc disease (to include cervical strain) have all been denied. The effective dates for these awards have also been denied.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided were inadequate for determining the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain new medical opinions and examinations.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment prior to August 7, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back condition, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee condition, and left ankle condition due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling from May 1, 2022, to December 15, 2022. The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to February 29, 2016. The Board referred the issue of entitlement to a TDIU to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and left shoulder disabilities due to issues with the adequacy of prior VA examination opinions. The Veteran contends these conditions are related to his service-connected left ankle strain.

The appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for GERD is dismissed. The case has been returned to the Board due to a withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's L4-5 degenerative disc disease is granted an initial rating of 20 percent effective January 11, 2016. Service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and thrombocytopenia are granted. The left knee disability and bilateral ankle disabilities are denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and allergies, but denied reopening of the claims for degenerative joint disease of the knees and depression. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of back condition, cervical spine condition, and allergies.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee tibial prominence and Osgood-Schlatter's disease is denied. The most persuasive evidence is against a finding that he has otherwise compensable range of motion loss, instability, subluxation, or any other impairment of the left knee.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal, bilateral knee, left shoulder, and back conditions due to inadequate opinions in the January 2020 VA examination reports.,Additional development is needed to obtain an adequate opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examination reports. The Veteran is also on appeal for a TDIU prior to June 19, 2017.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic bronchitis, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, and right knee disability are all granted.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the issues of left knee condition, right knee condition, and foot disability has been dismissed due to her withdrawal of all appeals.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The claims for left wrist, right wrist, sinusitis, right knee, and left knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee strain with degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, finding that these conditions began in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed left knee, right knee, and TMJ disorders. The matter must be remanded for a new VA examination to be conducted.