Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20% prior to April 5, 2019 and denied for a higher rating. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral knee disability (secondary to lumbar spine) and neurological disorder of bilateral upper extremities (carpal tunnel syndrome).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right knee should be remanded for further evaluation and a new medical opinion to determine if it is aggravated by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The issue of a greater than 10 percent rating for left knee degenerative arthritis is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, but the issues of service connection for back disability and major depressive disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for back disability, neck disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and nasal disability (deviated septum) due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The VA examiner will provide opinions on whether these disabilities are related to service or aggravated by any period of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities are not service-connected as they were not shown during active service or within one year of separation. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any current disability is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating for hypertension prior to December 31, 2015 and service connection for hepatitis B has been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for tinnitus has been granted. The Board acknowledges the Veteran’s in-service noise exposure but notes that his hearing was within normal limits while in service and inconsistent reports of tinnitus.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are more closely approximated by a 50 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's lumbar spine DDD is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are more closely approximated by the current 20 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate August 2019 VA medical opinion and the need for additional treatment records. The Veteran's knee disability is now subject to further examination and evaluation.

The Board found that the original grant of service connection for a left knee strain was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus restoring it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected right and left knee chondromalacia due to inadequate examination results.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, effective August 31, 2011. The cervical spine disability was increased to 20 percent from July 30, 2015. Both conditions are remanded for further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his disabilities did not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence linking his current knee conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to separate compensable evaluations for dislocated semilunar cartilage and residual effects of the right knee, as well as the claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The Veteran's right knee conditions are being reviewed due to incomplete medical records from previous examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities, as well as chronic kidney disease, were granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling VA examinations. The issues include residuals of a left leg fracture, right hip condition secondary to residuals of a left leg fracture, and bilateral knee condition secondary to residuals of a left leg fracture.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and additional examination. The Veteran's disabilities are related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a left knee disability and increased ratings for his right knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.