Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to January 1, 2020 for adding a dependency allowance for her spouse due to lack of evidence showing actual receipt of notice regarding her marriage.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the right hip, right knee, and left hip disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition, claimed as ligament damage and to include status post-surgical repair. The decision finds that the current disability is related to his active duty training.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for his knee disability due to insufficient examination results, lack of proper testing, and need for additional evidence. The claims will be reconsidered with new examinations.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including chondromalacia and osteoarthritis following ACL repair, is currently rated at the maximum allowed under Diagnostic Code 5258. The Board denied a higher rating as there was no evidence of ankylosis or other conditions warranting separate ratings.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and meniscus tear have been rated based on their schedular criteria. The Board has found that the current ratings are appropriate for these conditions.,However, due to additional functional loss from pain and other symptoms, a higher rating is being remanded for consideration of extraschedular evaluation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that his current left knee arthritis is related to his active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for sinusitis, nasal polyps, bronchitis, muscle and joint pain, erectile dysfunction, left knee condition, right knee condition, thoracolumbar spine degenerative changes, bilateral wrist condition, and bilateral elbow condition. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and low back disabilities, as well as his claim for service connection for sleep apnea. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's right and left knee strain and shin splint disabilities, finding that the evidence did not show limitation of motion sufficient to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's initial rating for his right knee disability was remanded due to insufficient examination findings. The case is now pending for a new VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, and bilateral lower extremity nerve damage due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions during or related to his active military service.

Service connection for PTSD and chondromalacia of the patella of the left knee has been granted.,The Veteran's left hip disorder remains under review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability. The claim will be returned for an addendum VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip, right knee, and ankle disabilities due to pain that may be related to his service-connected left knee disability and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development and evaluation of his claims, including obtaining medical records and audiogram results. The VA examiner must provide an opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran’s service-connected conditions and his hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for an adequate VA examination. The appeal for temporary total convalescence following his January 2014 surgery remains denied.,The Board found that the Veteran did not require a period of convalescence following his January 2014 left knee surgery, as he was discharged without any physical restrictions and gradually improved throughout his course of physical therapy.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability evaluations were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection due to pre-existing bilateral pes planus, arthritis of the lumbar spine, residuals of a contusion of the left arm with nerve damage, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, right knee strain, stress reaction of the left ankle, and stress reaction of the right ankle.

The Board has remanded four issues related to service connection and rating for the Veteran's right shoulder orthopedic and neurological disabilities, as well as his right knee disability. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to assess these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on various service-connected disabilities were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and an acquired psychiatric disorder, which resolved the benefit sought.