Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's tinea pedis of the bilateral foot is granted. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability is granted at a rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the appeal. The lumbar and knee disabilities remain rated as they were prior to the hearing.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, but his unemployability is due to his service-connected conditions. The Board has referred the issue of entitlement to a TDIU on an extraschedular basis to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service.

The Board is remanding the case to provide proper notice and allow the Veteran to submit additional evidence for his claim of reopening a previously denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability, including as secondary to a bilateral ankle condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the Veteran’s surviving child, finding that she was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to turning 18 years old.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of right shoulder arthritis, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis as these issues were withdrawn by the Veteran's attorney during a hearing.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted for insomnia with fatigue as secondary to PTSD and major depressive disorder. The claims for joint pain in legs, knees, arms, and elbows remain pending due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted restoration of the 50 percent rating for left knee limitation of extension and a 30 percent rating for left knee limitation of flexion, both effective October 1, 2013. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current right knee problems are not related to his in-service parachute jumps and do not meet the criteria for secondary service connection due to his service-connected left knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis. The Board also remanded cases regarding initial disability ratings for lumbar spine spondylosis and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with osteoarthritis.

The Veteran is granted a separate 10 percent rating for pain under DC 5010 prior to June 7, 2010.,The Veteran's claim for instability under DC 5257 prior to June 7, 2010 is denied.,The Veteran is granted a 60 percent rating from July 31, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. However, the preponderance of the evidence does not support the claims for right knee disability, left knee disability, dental disability, or low back disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 10 percent from March 18, 2010 to March 23, 2016 due to painful and noncompensable limitation of motion related to mild osteoarthritis.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for various service-connected disabilities, including eczematoid dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, right carpal tunnel syndrome, left carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with shin splints and anterior compartment syndrome, left hip disability, diabetes mellitus type II, hypogonadism, esophageal stricture with esophageal polyp and Schatzki's ring, and ventral hernia status post-surgery with rectus diastasis.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for back problems, left shoulder replacement, right hip replacement, left hip replacement, left knee replacement, and high blood pressure. The claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left shoulder impingement syndrome with rotator cuff tendonitis is denied.,The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for migraines prior to September 24, 2019 is remanded.,The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is remanded.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion and functional loss.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings was denied. The initial rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee (limitation of flexion) remains at 10 percent, and a separate 20 percent rating is granted for dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion to the joint from May 15, 2019. The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for instability of the right knee prior to May 15, 2019 was also denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion and granted a separate non-compensable rating for limitation of extension. The current ratings are effective as of March 22, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his left knee condition was denied as the evidence did not show limitation of motion that would warrant a higher evaluation.,The Veteran's skin conditions were found to be less likely related to service or an undiagnosed illness, and thus denial of service connection.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions did not begin during his military service or were otherwise caused by his military service.