Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to incomplete medical opinions and missing VA treatment records.

Service connection for OSA is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD and bronchitis. A higher rating in excess of 70 percent for service-connected PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's appeals regarding right and left knee disabilities have been withdrawn, resulting in their dismissal.,The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his right and left foot hallux valgus are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to outstanding claims of service connection and incomplete SSA records. The Veteran's representative submitted additional medical evidence that could impact the TDIU determination, so these issues must be addressed prior to further adjudication.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knees have been granted, with separate ratings of 20% each prior to May 10, 2011 (left knee) and May 4, 2019 (right knee). A separate 10% rating has also been granted for slight lateral instability of the right knee. The Veteran's knees have also manifested joint effusion from meniscus tears throughout the period on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible testimony regarding his in-service injury and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia were denied, as well as her claim for TDIU prior to August 12, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, left hip, and right hip conditions due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran's assertions about his in-service injuries and post-service symptoms will be considered.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5260 for limitation of flexion and a separate 10 percent rating is granted for instability. The Veteran’s right knee extension does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, including left upper lobe granulomatous infection with pulmonary nodule, was reopened and granted effective June 20, 2013. An effective date of June 20, 2013, but no earlier, is assigned for the award of service connection. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to April 15, 2008 remains denied.

The Board has received a withdrawal request from the appellant, and thus the appeals for left hip disability and left knee disability are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her thoracolumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating from February 17, 2011 to May 20, 2013 for the thoracolumbar spine disability or from May 20, 2013 onwards. For her bilateral knee disabilities, she was already receiving a 10 percent evaluation based on limited range of motion and pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for his service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome with painful motion during flexion and instability due to a lack of compliance with Correia v. McDonald (28 Vet. App. 158).

The Veteran's septic arthritis of the left knee was not caused by VA's carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or some other instance of fault on the part of VA. Therefore, his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the current disabilities are not related to service due to a lack of continuity of symptoms from service.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and his service-connected right knee condition and back condition have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted service connection. The Veteran's dry eyes, vision impairment, left knee condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and hemorrhoids have been dismissed from the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The right knee is rated at 10% for flexion limitation, but no extension rating has been granted. A separate 10% rating was granted for instability in the right knee effective January 27, 2015. For the left knee, a 10% rating remains denied prior to April 20, 2015, and a higher rating is also denied post-total knee replacement.