Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, as well as a cervical spine disorder. The issues are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and need for additional evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for fibromyalgia, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and nerve damage disability.,New evidence was received to reopen the claims of service connection for left knee disability and back disability. The claims are currently pending.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement, has not been manifested by chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion or weakness as required for a higher rating of 60 percent under DC 5055. The Board found that the criteria for an increased disability rating in excess of 30 percent are not met.

The Veteran's claim for dermatophytosis is dismissed as the Board lacks jurisdiction due to the use of the Rapid Appeals Modernization Program (RAMP). The claims for a left knee condition and hypertension are remanded for further development.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for fibromyositis of the lumbar muscles and remanded other issues related to service connection. The Veteran's claim for separate evaluation for left lower extremity radiculopathy, as well as claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy and DJD of the knees and hands are being remanded due to unclear evidence.

The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, stomach condition, hypothyroidism, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims were remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for various hand and knee conditions were denied. The right knee condition was rated at 10% from December 27, 2012, with no higher rating granted due to noncompensable limitation of flexion.

The Board has denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability and has remanded his claims of service connection for right hip, right shoulder, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed to determine if it is related to his in-service injury from completing over 17 parachute jumps or his pain in 1968.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip osteoarthritis, trochanteric pain syndrome, and trochanteric bursitis, as well as right knee degenerative arthritis. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service injuries and continuous symptoms since discharge.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right elbow, and left ankle disabilities due to lack of examination. The claim for ear infection disability remains denied as new evidence does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's right knee disability was granted a rating of 20 percent from September 18, 1998 to June 20, 2016. The left knee issues were also addressed with the granting of ratings for meniscus disorder and arthritis.

Entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities was denied. The Veteran's right knee is currently rated at the highest schedular rating available under DC 5260, and his left knee is not more nearly approximating flexion limited to 30 degrees.,Entitlement to increased ratings for right knee instability and left knee instability were also denied. The Veteran’s right knee instability was assigned the highest schedular disability rating available under DC 5257, and his left knee instability was rated at the highest schedular rating available under DC 5257.

The Veteran's left leg and knee disability was rated at 20 percent prior to April 16, 2019, and increased to 40 percent as of that date.,A separate 10 percent rating for slight recurrent left knee instability is granted effective January 14, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals, fracture left tibia and fibula, midshaft was dismissed as the full benefit sought on appeal has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for neck scars was dismissed as the full benefit sought on appeal has been granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for pain alone, and the Board has found substantial compliance with remand directives. The case is being remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted based on additional functional impairment due to flare-ups.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is rated at 30 percent disabling from March 19, 2015 to August 25, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right foot, left foot, right ankle, left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.