Knee Board decisions

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his bilateral hearing loss and increased rating for a left shoulder disability are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and need further evaluation.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain and right knee meniscal tear have been rated, but the Board has not determined if additional service connection is warranted for neck, shoulder, or sinus conditions.,The Veteran's knees require further examination to determine their current functional limitations.

The Board denied service connection for back and left knee conditions, finding that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral knee pain and right ankle pain are granted as her symptoms have resulted in functional impairment since active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right ankle condition, right knee condition, and right thumb condition.,There is no evidence in the record to support that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various disabilities, including dental condition, right shoulder disability, right arm disability, OSA, kidney disability, polycythemia, right knee DJD with limitation of flexion, left knee DJD, hemorrhoids, hiatal hernia with GERD, and TDIU. The remand requires additional development to obtain relevant VA treatment records and conduct a VA examination for the Veteran's knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee and low back disorders are related to her military occupational specialty duties.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various knee and hand disorders due to incomplete development of records.

The Board has determined that the cause of death is unclear and remands for further development to determine if service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disease and left knee degenerative arthritis, but the case is remanded for further development on other issues.,Additional search efforts are needed to obtain missing October 1987 to March 1988 ACDUTRA STRs. The Veteran should be notified of these efforts and given an opportunity to submit alternative evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for right knee disabilities is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. A new examination is needed to assess the current severity and manifestations of his right knee disability.

The Board has found that service connection is not warranted for a right hip disability. The issue of service connection for a right knee disability is remanded due to the need for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a left ankle disability, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active service.,There is no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptoms after service, and the medical opinion concluded that the in-service injury was minor with no residual effects.

The Veteran's low back disorder is rated at 20 percent, and his bilateral knee replacements are each rated at 60 percent. The appeal for a higher rating for the low back disorder was denied, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or ankylosis. The ratings for the bilateral knees remain unchanged.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating in excess of 10 percent for arthritis of the right knee due to inadequate reasons and bases provided by the February 2019 decision. The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee arthritis during flare-ups and repeated use over time.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service and no medical opinion linking the current condition to service.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation before February 25, 2011. From that date onward, he was able to maintain his income above the poverty threshold.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and evaluation.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized as degenerative joint disease (previously rated as noncompensable LOM on flexion), was denied a greater than 10 percent rating prior to April 22, 2021. The Veteran also had hypertension and GERD, both of which were denied compensable ratings.,From April 22, 2021, the Veteran's left knee disability was granted a noncompensable rating for LOM on flexion due to pain.

The Veteran's right knee disability, rated at 10 percent for chondromalacia patella with traumatic arthritis and limited motion, is denied as the criteria for a higher rating are not met. The issue of increased rating based on instability remains denied.