Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,Prior to December 6, 2019, the Veteran's left knee instability was rated at 10 percent. From December 6, 2019, it has been rated at 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to deficiencies in previous VA examinations and opinions. The Veteran's right shoulder disability, upper GI disorder, left shoulder disorder, right hand disorder, thoracolumbar spine (low back) disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral ankle disorder are all subject to review.

Service connection for migraine headache disorder, low back disorder, right hand disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and right foot disorder is granted.,Service connection for psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and an antisocial personality disorder) is remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability, which manifested as moderate to severe painful motion during flare-ups, is granted a 60 percent rating from July 1, 2012.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder (secondary to a left knee disorder), left shoulder disorder, and sinusitis due to insufficient examination opinions addressing the Veteran's contentions regarding in-service onset and continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to address the severity of her service-connected right knee flexion and limitation of extension conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating for a low back disorder, as well as for an increased rating for a left knee disorder. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its inextricability with other claims.

The Board denied service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, diabetes mellitus type II, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as the evidence did not show a relationship to service.

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for right knee injury is granted. The VA has been ordered to obtain the Veteran's complete updated records of VA treatment and authorize VA to obtain clinical records from private providers who have evaluated or treated him for cardiovascular disability and right knee disability, including those pertaining to his 2007 right partial knee replacement and subsequent recovery.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine and bilateral knee disorders, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since August 29, 2007. The Board has granted an effective date of August 29, 2007 for his claim of entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is related to an injury sustained during qualifying service in September 2009.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, have precluded his employability since June 18, 1983. The Board has granted a TDIU effective June 18, 1983 on an extraschedular basis and dismissed the claims for higher initial ratings for bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for bilateral ear hearing loss, right hip condition, and left knee condition are inadequate. The claims must be remanded to obtain new opinions from appropriate VA examiners.

The Veteran's bilateral knee chondromalacia patella has been rated at 10 percent for each knee, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the current range of motion findings.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings and a compensable rating for left knee conditions, leaving no issues remaining to be decided.

The Board has granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and granted increased ratings of 20 percent each for right knee arthritis and left knee arthritis, as well as initial 10 percent ratings for right and left knee instability. The Veteran's appeal was reopened on new evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee and left ankle disorders, finding that the current conditions are not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran's left knee disorder, including osteoarthritis, is being reviewed again for possible service connection.

The Veteran's right knee subluxation and instability are denied a compensable rating from January 13, 2009 to July 12, 2016.,The Veteran's right knee disability prior to October 12, 2016 is rated at 10%.,The Veteran's right knee disability from October 12, 2016 to July 18, 2017 is rated at 30%.,The Veteran's right knee disability from July 18, 2017 to January 1, 2021 is rated at 40%.,The Veteran's right knee disability from January 1, 2021 to present is rated at 10%.,The Veteran's left knee disability prior to October 12, 2016 is rated at 10%,The Veteran's left knee disability from October 12, 2016 to January 1, 2021 is rated at 30%.,The Veteran's left knee disability from January 1, 2021 to present is rated at 10%

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as her service connection claims for a bilateral ankle condition (presumed due to Gulf War exposure) and left knee condition are all remanded for additional development.