Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee, status post arthroscopy, is rated at 20 percent and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran’s right knee disability (degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia) is rated at 10 percent and denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's right knee condition, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, is found to have started during his military service and granted service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition, shin splints (left and right legs), right knee condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition. The reasons provided include lack of in-service diagnosis or continuity of symptomatology, absence of a nexus to service, and no aggravation by service-connected inguinal hernia.

The appeal for service connection for allergic rhinitis has been rendered moot by the grant of service connection in a July 2020 rating decision.,Service connection for a left knee disorder (claimed as severe left leg arthritis) is denied due to lack of evidence of an in-service injury or disease and no continuous symptoms since service.

The Board denied service connection for a headache disorder, to include ocular migraines, and denied entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance. The Veteran's current headaches are not considered incurred in or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left and right shoulder glenohumeral joint arthritis, left knee disability, left hand disability, and right elbow disability has been remanded.,Accrued benefits claims for left shoulder glenohumeral joint arthritis and right shoulder glenohumeral joint arthritis have been dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for left knee arthritis, right knee arthritis, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease due to lack of evidence showing a link between the disabilities and service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and instability, is rated at 60% since September 1, 2013. The Veteran also has a right wrist carpal tunnel condition which does not affect the rating of her left knee.

The Veteran's left knee bipartite patella with knee and meniscal tear is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's left knee instability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran has been assigned a maximum 30 percent rating for IBS effective October 21, 2020. The claim of an earlier effective date remains pending.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability, including as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability, has been remanded. The Veteran also had his lumbar spine disability rated and the rating in excess of 20 percent remains unchanged.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic obstructive sleep apnea has been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection for a left knee condition, including as secondary to the Veteran’s service-connected back disability, was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current left knee condition and that it did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are found to have had their onset in service.,There is no evidence of a current gout disability or functional impairment due to gout.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for a separate rating for left knee instability was granted, but only effective from June 12, 2015.

The Board has found that further evidentiary development is necessary and remands the case to ensure compliance with prior remand instructions. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her knee conditions and service connection for a genitourinary condition are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative joint disease have been rated at 10 percent each, but the Board found that these ratings are not adequate as they do not account for functional loss due to pain during flare-ups.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative osteoarthrosis based on limitation of motion prior to June 29, 2011 and from August 1, 2011, as well as a separate rating for left knee instability prior to August 18, 2020, and to a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter. The Veteran's claims are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right, left shoulder disorders, lumbar spine disorder, right and left hip disorders, right and left knee disorders, and right and left ankle disorders due to in-service repetitive loading of heavy loads from HEMTTs or rocket tubes. The appeals are now pending with VA for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disability prior to June 15, 2009. The Veteran needs a new addendum opinion from an appropriate examiner.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its prior remand instructions and the appeal must be remanded once again to afford the Veteran another opportunity for a VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee instability is now rated at 20 percent, reflecting moderate instability. The patellar femoral syndrome remains at a 10 percent rating due to painful motion.