Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remands and needs an addendum opinion regarding the right knee arthritis.

The Veteran's initial claim for higher ratings for his service-connected lumbosacral strain, migraine headaches, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and radiculopathy of sciatic nerve was denied. The Veteran is currently rated at 20 percent for lumbosacral strain prior to January 27, 2020 and at 40 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his service-connected migraine headaches was granted with an initial 50 percent rating from January 3, 2013. The Veteran is currently rated at 50 percent for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis with painful motion in flexion is granted at a 10 percent rating, effective the entire appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disabilities were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations.

The Veteran's disabilities are rated at 100 percent combined, but the Board finds that he does not meet the threshold requirement for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his multiple service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized as lateral instability and degenerative joint disease, is granted an initial 20 percent rating for the entire period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate nexus opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disorder. The matter is now to be returned for further examination and consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to obtain post-service treatment records from four military health care facilities identified by the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee tendonitis is rated at 10 percent prior to March 21, 2018 and a separate 10 percent rating for instability was granted starting from August 11, 2015. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a left hand disability due to potential nexus with in-service cold injury and chip fracture.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right ankle fracture with chronic sprain, service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, left ankle disability, and left knee disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran and changes in VA regulations.

The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty is currently rated at 30 percent since May 1, 2019. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to lack of severe painful motion or weakness in the affected extremity.

The Board has remanded the left knee disability rating and TDIU issues due to incomplete examinations and inextricability with the left knee issue.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to August 19, 2009 is being remanded due to the need for additional records and further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The claim for service connection for the cause of death was also denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not establish that any of these conditions were related to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left knee, left leg, and bilateral foot disabilities have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded these issues due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and respiratory disorder (including asthma and COPD) due to insufficient development of medical evidence. The Veteran is requested to provide VA with any private treatment records, undergo VA examinations, and submit additional evidence if needed.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee, right knee, and lumbar spine disabilities, finding that these conditions are aggravated by her service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal regarding increased ratings for his left and right knee chondromalacia patella is being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by patellofemoral syndrome and meniscal tear, is currently rated at 10 percent under the criteria for limitation of flexion. The Board found that his symptoms do not more nearly approximate the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his hip, knee, ankle, and finger disabilities due to inadequate examinations and opinions provided in August 2021. The case is being returned for further development.