Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10% disabling. The Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted, and the claim for service connection for OSA remains remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including blindness, glaucoma, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, shoulder pain, elbow and wrist swelling, toe numbness, leg numbness, jaw joint pain, hip joint swelling, knee and ankle pain, bilateral pes planus, foot bunions, rib fracture discomfort, hand weakness, left hand swelling, tonsillitis, dizzy spells, fatigue, pharyngitis, allergy disorder, breathing disorder, sleep apnea, heart condition, ulcer, gastritis, gastrointestinal problems, GERD, kidney disorder, lipoma, obesity, arm numbness and pain, and finger numbness. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.,The Veteran's TBI claim is also denied as there was no in-service head injury or related condition.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of severe limitation of motion.,For his right knee disability prior to October 1, 2018 (excluding a temporary total evaluation from August 28, 2017, to September 30, 2018), the Veteran's disability rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 60 percent effective October 1, 2018 and remains at that level. The Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating based on evidence of severe painful motion or weakness.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted a 50% rating for limitation of extension starting from June 3, 2021.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records from 2004 to the present. The Veteran's skin condition is granted service connection, but his right knee disability remains in dispute.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining addendum opinions regarding the Veteran's kidney condition and right knee disability, as well as scheduling a VA examination for his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, but the left knee disability claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,The Veteran's left knee DJD (flexion) and limitation of extension are rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, with no further increase in evaluation possible based on the objective test results provided.,The Veteran's left knee instability is currently rated at 20 percent, which is the highest rating available for this condition. The claim is remanded as new evidence may warrant a higher rating.,A separate 20 percent evaluation has been granted for dislocated cartilage with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain, and effusion into the joint, based on the Veteran's symptoms and medical history.,The right knee sprain and right shoulder stretched ligaments/torn tendons s/p surgery claims are also remanded as new evidence may warrant a different outcome.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's scar, residual of right knee surgery, does not warrant a compensable initial rating. The issues of service connection for lupus and an increased rating for Osgood-Schlatter syndrome, right knee are remanded.

The Board has reinstated the Veteran's appeal for increased rating for right knee sprain, service connection for left knee arthritis, and temporary total evaluation based on surgery necessitating at least one month of convalescence. The appeal is considered timely filed as the Veteran never received a copy of the January 2019 SOC due to an incorrect mailing address.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and right knee disability are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file. An examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these disabilities, including whether they are related to service or secondary to other service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical examination, and a new VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to his in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 20 percent for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show flexion limited to 45 degrees or extension limited to 10 degrees.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome have been granted initial 20 percent ratings.

The Board has remanded the claim for a new VA examination with an orthopedist to assess the current severity of the Veteran's left knee disability due to previous inadequate assessments.

The Veteran's right knee torn meniscus was granted a separate 20% rating since February 4, 2019. The other conditions were rated based on their severity prior to that date.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis with painful motion is granted a 20 percent rating prior to September 9, 2014. A higher rating for limitation of flexion since November 1, 2014 is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with tendonitis and tendinosis, as well as his bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, require further examination to determine their current severity. The issues of an increased rating for these conditions are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist disability, rectocele, right knee disability (secondary to service-connected left knee surgery), and bilateral pes planus. The Veteran is now assigned a 10% rating for s/p left knee surgery with pain and cartilage thinning.