Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, as the current VA medical opinion is inadequate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a left knee disability and evaluation of a right knee disability due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors. The Veteran's left knee disability is not considered secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that it was aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The appeals for increased disability ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's nephrolithiasis was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and his right knee disability, osteoarthritis of the left and right achilles tendons are also not related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether a preexisting right knee injury was aggravated by an in-service bumping incident at a VA facility. The Veteran's argument about VA making an error is also being considered.

The Veteran's left knee disability has been granted a rating of 60 percent effective from November 1, 2017.,Special monthly compensation (SMC) for the period April 11, 2019 to present is also granted.

The Veteran is granted service connection for right knee arthritis and a right knee meniscus tear, which likely resulted from active duty service. The Veteran is also granted service connection for left knee arthritis, which likely resulted from active duty service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and fibromyalgia were granted. The appeal for TMJ dysfunction and chest pain secondary to fibromyalgia is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including bilateral foot, leg/knee, hip, headache, psychiatric, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to in-service events.

The Veteran's low back disability is currently rated at 40% and his left knee disability is rated at 10%. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted for either condition during the period on appeal.

The Veteran's right knee disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling for flexion and noncompensable for extension. The ratings are denied.

The Veteran's claim for higher initial ratings for DJD of the right knee, instability, and chondromalacia with a meniscal tear is granted. The current rating for DJD remains at 10 percent prior to May 11, 2017 and increases to 30 percent thereafter. A separate 20 percent rating is assigned for instability from March 31, 2009 onwards.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a new examination to assess current functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in previous opinions and a need for further examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and right knee disability, including as secondary to the left knee disability. The Veteran's claims were based on DJD in both knees, which was not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and an increased rating for his right ankle disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service. The Veteran's current disabilities were found not to warrant higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the issues of rating excess 10 percent for right and left knee chondromalacia, as well as entitlement to a separate noncompensable rating for right knee limited flexion.

The Veteran's right knee instability and surgical scar are rated at 20 percent, with a separate rating for the instability. The claim is granted.

The Board has granted a temporary total rating for immobilization of the Veteran’s right ankle. The case is remanded for further development regarding the left knee disability.