Knee Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder, elbow, and knee conditions due to additional evidence being added to the record since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including limitation of motion and instability, is rated at 30 percent from February 4, 1996, to February 19, 2002. A separate 10 percent rating for instability was granted prior to February 19, 2002. The Veteran's left knee disability is now rated at 30 percent from April 29, 2003, forward and a separate 10 percent rating for instability has been granted from August 6, 2005, to June 1, 2021. Service connection for glaucoma was denied.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for left knee recurrent lateral instability, effective August 20, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for migraine headaches has been withdrawn. The claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, sleep apnea, breast cancer residuals, cholecystectomy residuals, right knee disability, left knee disability, left foot injury, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression), traumatic brain injury with residuals, memory loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, and tinnitus have been dismissed. The claim for service connection for temporomandibular joint disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's right knee instability and degenerative joint disease are rated at 20 percent from April 14, 2012 to December 28, 2014. A separate rating of 20 percent is granted for semilunar cartilage dysfunction during the same period.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for Major Depressive Disorder is dismissed.,Service connection granted for right wrist disability, left wrist disability, and headaches as a residual of TBI.

The Veteran's appeals for ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee patellar tendonitis with arthritis have been denied. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on the current range of motion findings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left knee disability has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal.

Service connection for left knee arthritis and right knee arthritis is granted. Service connection for loss of consciousness and right shoulder injury is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee and genitourinary disabilities. The heart disability claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for multiple joint arthritis, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder and knee disabilities, bilateral ankle and foot disabilities, cardiac disability (including heart palpitations), and diabetes mellitus due to insufficient evidence.,Further examination is needed to determine if the Veteran currently has these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to January 6, 2021 as his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for further examination and consideration due to inconsistencies in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder, right knee, and left ankle disabilities have been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability and skin condition.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee recurrent patellar dislocation and right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions preexisted service and were not aggravated by military service. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to left foot, ankle, knee, and back disabilities are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran is not required to have an underlying diagnosis of arthritis or other specific condition; pain alone can constitute a disability under VA law if it results in functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition post total knee replacement due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The VA examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's right knee condition status post total knee replacement, including osteoarthritis, is at least as likely as not (probability of 50 percent or greater) the result of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury.