Knee Board decisions

The appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board.,The claim of service connection for a left knee condition, to include as secondary to service-connected disabilities is being remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA Form 21-4142 and a need for an addendum opinion regarding bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 5258. A separate evaluation of 10 percent for limitation of extension of the left knee is granted.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for slight left knee instability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's motion to revise a June 23, 2011 rating decision that denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities. The decision is revised to reflect an award of service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee and medial compartment osteoarthritis of the right knee, both effective October 22, 2009.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability aggravated his back and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disc and facet disease with scoliosis, left knee instability, and left knee degenerative joint disease have been rated at the maximum available rating of 20 percent. The Board has remanded these issues for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and sleep apnea due to gas chamber exposure. The issues are being returned for further development, including verification of service dates and obtaining medical examinations.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left foot, right foot, left knee, and right knee disabilities. The peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease claims are also remanded as they may be related to his knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and reviewing relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for post-operative right knee osteoarthritic changes and a separate rating for the meniscal tear with removal was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 30 percent or 10 percent, respectively.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional examinations to determine if the Veteran's service-connected left foot disability caused or aggravated his left knee and right hip conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate examinations and because of the need to address issues related to separate evaluations under Codes 5258 or 5259 for meniscus tears of both knees.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA examination to assess the Veteran's knee disabilities, as the prior examinations were inadequate. The examiner is required to provide range of motion measurements in passive motion and non-weight-bearing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee and right hip disabilities due to a lack of adequate VA examinations. The case is also remanded for consideration of the Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to November 30, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee strain with osteoarthritic changes and right knee subluxation, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating at any point during the appeal period.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability and denied a compensable rating for his left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 16, 2019 for the Veteran's service connection for right knee instability and strain. The decision is based on evidence showing a chronic knee disability since onset in service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for fatigue, depression and short term memory loss (a medically unexplained chronic multi symptom illness) are granted. The right knee disorder claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability within the applicable presumptive period. The left knee disorder secondary to the right knee disorder claim is also denied.

The Veteran's PTSD, right knee DJD and left knee ACL tear residuals, and bilateral plantar fasciitis are all remanded for further examination to determine their current severity.