Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, polymyalgia rheumatica, osteopenia, and bilateral plantar fasciitis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran's STRs were silent for any complaints or diagnoses related to these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ankle disability but has remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis and meniscus tear, left knee instability, and lumbar spine osteoarthritis before June 25, 2020 are denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of symptoms or functional impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss for VA purposes.,Service connection for a hip condition is denied due to lack of competent and credible evidence showing the existence of such a disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right shoulder disability, left ankle and ankle disabilities, left foot and right foot disabilities, low back disability, and right elbow disability. The claim for status post left salpingectomy with scars was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for depression, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are denied. The claim for an increased rating for migraines is remanded.,The Veteran’s service-connected depression is currently rated at 50 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code (DC) 9411. Her claims for left and right knee disabilities are both rated at 10 percent under DCs 5260 and 5260, respectively. The claim for migraines effective August 16, 2016 is currently rated at 50 percent under DC 8100.,The Veteran's service-connected migraines are currently rated at 50 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code (DC) 8100 effective August 16, 2016. Her claims for increased ratings for depression and knee disabilities remain pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and bilateral knee conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection, particularly related to exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his left knee disability was denied. He is currently rated at 10 percent for chondromalacia with osteoarthritis and a separate rating of 20 percent for meniscal abnormality.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection and TDIU prior to June 1, 2015 are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's osteoarthritis and knee disabilities. Further examination is required.

The Veteran's initial rating for right knee strain is denied as her condition does not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating. The initial rating for low back strain through October 31, 2012, is granted at 20 percent.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is rated at 20 percent, but no higher. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating for his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service records do not show any left ankle or left knee disability. The Board denied the claims for service connection.,For his right knee condition, the Veteran was granted a compensable evaluation of 30 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. Additional development is required.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral cataracts and remanded the issues of service connection for low back, knee, shoulder, sleep disorder (secondary to PTSD), and left hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for a higher rating for left knee disability due to an inadequate VA examination. A new examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's service-connected osteoarthritis of the right knee and PTSD have been granted a combined rating of 60 percent, effective January 1, 2010. This meets the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) under section 1114(s) due to his permanent housebound status caused by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims and a claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to complications from back surgery.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an increase in disability rating beyond 10 percent for left knee pain status post plica surgery prior to March 16, 2015 or a 30 percent rating for left knee replacement surgery from June 1, 2016 through June 14, 2017. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left shoulder, and back disorders due to inadequate opinions provided in August 2020. Additionally, the claim for a higher initial rating for left hallux valgus is also being remanded as it is intertwined with the service connection claims.