Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of discussion on whether the service-connected pes planus aggravated the left leg or knee condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prediabetes, allergic rhinitis, helicobacter pylori, hypertension, osteoarthritis, a back disability (secondary to bilateral foot disability), and right and left knee disabilities. The effective dates were not addressed as they are not relevant to the disposition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to determine if an estimate of the Veteran’s additional loss of motion on flare-up can be calculated, and to review all submitted evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee/leg and low back disabilities, as well as his headaches and sleep disturbance, may be related to service. The claims are being remanded for further examination and etiology opinions.

The Veteran's service connection for left ear hearing loss is granted. The rating for right ear hearing loss remains noncompensable. From September 1, 2015 and prior to May 17, 2019, a rating in excess of 30 percent for the right knee disability is denied. From May 17, 2019 until present, a rating in excess of 60 percent for the right knee disability is denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and instability due to inadequate VA examination reports, lack of range of motion testing in accordance with Correia v. McDonald (2016), and failure to provide an explanation for not conducting such testing.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective December 15, 2011. The right knee disability has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus is granted, and the claims for service connection for varicose veins, viral meningitis, right knee disability, bilateral flatfeet, shin splints (to include as due to bilateral flatfeet), and an acquired psychiatric disorder are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee disability and sleep apnea or other sleep/respiratory impairment due to undiagnosed illness or Gulf War Illness. The claims are being returned for additional development, including examinations addressing these issues.

Your appeal has been dismissed as the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability was granted in full.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion and instability, with a separate rating for instability of the left knee. The Board denied higher ratings based on the evidence showing that the Veteran’s range of motion is not limited to less than 30 degrees.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, right knee arthritis, left knee and ankle arthritis, and hip injury are rated at 20 percent for the entire rating period.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and the need for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left total knee arthroplasty, finding that the condition was aggravated by his service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a right knee disability due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's use of over-the-counter medication and his self-reported pain since service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 30 percent from March 1, 2020. The Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted for the period prior to January 2, 2019 due to lack of more than slight instability and limitation of extension. For the period after March 1, 2020, the Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 30 percent under DC 5055.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right and left knees, as well as a separate rating for left knee instability. The criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent were not met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran and grants his claim, as he has provided credible evidence to establish a nexus between his current tinnitus and his military service. His right knee disorder issue remains pending due to insufficient medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the Veteran had acoustic trauma during service. Service connection was denied for right and left knee disorders, left ankle disorder, and stomach disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee disability and for a compensable rating for left knee extension due to insufficient information regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of flare-ups during the examination.