Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and stress fracture of the left tibia were found to not warrant a higher rating, with the exception of the remanded issues.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions include degenerative joint diseases in both knees and a stress fracture of her left tibia. The appeals period was marked by multiple examinations that did not find any additional symptoms or functional loss beyond what is already contemplated under current diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability. The issue of service connection for a left knee disability is being referred back for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to address the severity of his service-connected disabilities, as well as their relationship to service. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, OSA, degenerative arthritis of the knees, lumbosacral spine, and cervical spine.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by frequent episodes of locking and effusion with a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of extension, is granted. The current effective date is not specified.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches and remanded the claims of service connection for thoracic spine disability and left knee disability due to secondary service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his right and left knee disabilities, as well as service connection for a left thumb disability, have been denied. The claim for TDIU has also been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, finding that there was no in-service incurrence of the current bilateral knee degenerative arthritis and that it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral ankle disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral pes planus, patellofemoral syndrome with subluxation of the right knee, and patellofemoral syndrome with limited motion of the right knee due to inadequate medical opinions in the July 2021 VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability, bilateral leg disability, left shoulder disability, and chronic muscle fatigue. The Veteran's claims were based on his assertions of in-service injury or exposure.,There is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that any current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current diagnoses of knee osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis and his active service.

The Veteran's right knee brace caused wear and tear on his clothing, which qualifies him for a clothing allowance in 2019.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for right knee arthritis was granted at 20 percent from January 30, 2009 to September 15, 2020. The rating was denied higher than 20 percent from September 15, 2020 to May 11, 2021 and again from May 11, 2021 to August 5, 2021. A separate compensable rating for right knee extension limitation was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for neck, low back, left knee/leg, left foot, and right foot disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing chronic or recurring symptoms during or immediately after service.

The Veteran's claim for hypertension has been newly granted. The claims for increased ratings of right ankle strain and left knee degenerative arthritis are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and hypertension, but denied service connection for a left knee disorder. The Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is considered to be related to his military service, while the hypertension is not. The left knee disorder was not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a right foot disability, finding that the evidence did not support a direct relationship to military service or aggravation by a pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's hypertension, allergic rhinitis, and knee osteoarthritis are all rated at the minimum compensable level. The Veteran has been remanded for further development on issues related to carpal tunnel syndrome and TDIU.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for higher ratings based on limitation of motion.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis with polyps, residuals of pilonidal cysts, left buttock scar, TMJ dysfunction with bruxism, a left knee/quadricep disability, and a right knee/quadricep disability. The conditions are found to be at least as likely as not the result of in-service disease or injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities in the knees, shoulders, or BTM, nor any nexus to service.