Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's initial claim for left knee DJD with status post ACL reconstruction was denied, and a noncompensable rating (0%) was assigned from March 1, 2009. A subsequent 10% rating was granted effective July 14, 2014.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and a right knee disability, both of which are determined to be related to injuries sustained during active duty for training (ACDUTRA) periods.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee disorders, right shoulder impingement syndrome, left shoulder osteoarthritis, foot fungus (onychomycosis), PTSD with depressive disorder, lumbar strain prior to June 30, 2016, and bilateral hearing loss.,The Board also remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of sleep apnea secondary to PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of left hip, shoulder, and knee injuries due to in-service trauma. The Veteran is also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to outstanding private medical records related to the Veteran's bilateral hip and left knee disabilities. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to service or not.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The rating for osteoarthrosis of the right knee and left knee prior to October 26, 2016 are granted at 10 percent each. A separate 10 percent evaluation is granted for a left knee meniscectomy. The Veteran's total arthroplasty from December 1, 2017 is rated as 30 percent. Left knee scars are evaluated as 10 percent.

The Veteran's left knee strain is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board found that it does not warrant a higher rating as his range of motion was limited to at most 70 degrees for flexion and full extension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found no evidence to support these claims based on the lack of current diagnoses or a link between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is granted service connection as presumed due to herbicide exposure, while his bilateral knee arthritis is denied as not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the etiology of these conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on in-service injuries, while VA has provided opinions that are inadequate or silent regarding the relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examinations in previous decisions, and a new examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied as his right knee DJD and TKR did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings, and left knee painful motion did not warrant a separate rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in an inability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, so his claim for total disability based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left knee disability, and migraine headaches.,There is no evidence of any current or in-service psychiatric condition that would support the Veteran's claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, ankle, and shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is not presumed to have a chronic condition in service or within presumptive periods.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disorder, right hip disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bronchitis due to additional development being required.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there is no causal relationship between his in-service injury and his current condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and instability, was not found to warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension, arthritis of the fingers (also claimed as gout), and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities for further development.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and various cold injury residuals are denied. The claim for chronic obstructive airway disease is also denied.