Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee, left elbow, and right elbow disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The VA is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether these conditions are related to service or secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee, low back, and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions and examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine strain and left knee strain, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the left knee sprain, lumbar strain (prior to January 6, 2014), and lumbar strain (since December 23, 2020) did not warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes. Sleep apnea was also denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and left knee condition due to insufficient examination opinions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine the etiology of his current knee conditions, which may be related to service or pre-existing conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in a VA examination report and the need for additional medical evidence.

The Veteran was granted effective dates of January 1, 2014 for various disabilities including bilateral plantar fasciitis with bilateral calcaneal enthesopathy, left and right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain with arthritis, left elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, right elbow lateral and medial epicondylitis with arthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.,The effective dates were granted based on the Veteran's original claim filed in July 2013.

Service connection for a left knee disability is granted.,Service connection for a right knee disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is denied.,Service connection for a low back disability, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability, is denied.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's right knee instability is now rated at 10 percent effective October 31, 2016. From December 28, 2020, the rating for his right knee instability has been increased to 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of chronicity or continuity of symptomatology since service and that the current diagnosis is not causally related to service.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as his flexion does not limit to less than 30 degrees.,Prior to May 18, 2016, the Veteran's left knee arthritis was rated at 10 percent. After that date, it is rated at 20 percent. The Board found no evidence of limitation of motion more nearly approximating flexion limited to 15 degrees or less.

The Board denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and left hand disabilities as well as hypertension. The claims were based on the Veteran's assertions of continuity of symptomatology since service but these were not supported by medical evidence or consistent with his prior statements.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and radiculopathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities. The Veteran's left knee partial meniscectomy is granted a separate 10% rating.

The Veteran's right knee, hip and lumbar spine disorders are granted as secondary to his service-connected right foot injury.,An increased rating of 20 percent for the Veteran’s right foot disorder is granted.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for several of the issues on appeal. The claims must be remanded to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities, as well as any aggravation or secondary service connection.,The Board also notes that some of the issues have not been fully developed with respect to obtaining treatment records and other evidence.

The Board has dismissed the appeals on all issues related to service connection for various conditions as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in a previous medical opinion and the need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board dismissed all reopened service connection claims for various conditions, including back pain, hip conditions, diabetes, and hypertension. The decision also dismissed the claim for an increased rating for persistent depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is related to an in-service fall/injury and grants service connection for this condition.