Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for left knee arthritis with limitation of flexion is denied, but his claim for an increased evaluation for left knee instability is granted to 20 percent effective from the date of the decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of her lay statements regarding her symptoms.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 60 percent since March 9, 2018. The Board has denied an even higher rating but granted a partial award of increased compensation for the period from September 1, 2017 to March 9, 2018. TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's right and left knee strains, as well as her asthma, were denied initial ratings in excess of 10 percent.,Her lumbar strain was granted an initial 20 percent rating.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee, shoulder, and low back disorders as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service.

The Veteran's right knee strain with degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on current evidence.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 30 percent for limited extension of the left knee due to meniscus degenerative disease from January 24, 2010. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for limited flexion of the left knee due to meniscus degenerative disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was not enough evidence to show he could not secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically addressing range of motion during flare-ups.

The Veteran's right knee DJD, instability, and locking have been granted increased ratings to 20 percent each since December 18, 2013.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 20 percent each for frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion. Separate ratings of 20 percent are also granted for instability in both knees.

The Veteran's claim for SMC-AA was filed on September 11, 2006. The Board granted an effective date of September 11, 2006, but no earlier, for the award of SMC-AA.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted. The Board has remanded all issues, including service connection for a back disability and an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia patella with laxity rating was restored from 10% to 20%, effective June 1, 2017. The right knee and DJD ratings remain under review.

The Board denied service connection for left ankle, left knee, and bilateral hip disorders as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease, and the medical opinions were against a nexus to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right ankle disability and remanded her claim for a higher rating for her service-connected right knee patella fracture.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, to include as secondary to PTSD, was denied. The claims for increased evaluations for right knee patellofemoral syndrome and right knee instability were also denied. The claim for left shoulder dyskinesis was partially denied, with a 20 percent evaluation granted from October 13, 2020, but the issue of entitlement to an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent remains pending. The Veteran's claim for TBI/post-concussion syndrome with insomnia was also denied.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal disability and degenerative arthritis are rated at 10 percent each, while urticaria is not service-connected. The TDIU claim is granted prior to February 28, 2013.