Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability and an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease leading to current disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent for painful motion and instability, effective September 15, 2014.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at the maximum schedular rating of 20% for instability prior to July 1, 2015 and at a separate 10% rating for limitation of motion. No higher ratings are warranted.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's right knee instability associated with arthritis, finding that it causes moderate impairment.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome, finding that the evidence did not support an increased rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left elbow conditions, obstructive sleep apnea, knee conditions, ankle conditions, shin splints, and low back condition. The decision also noted that the Veteran's PTSD has been granted with an initial rating of 70 percent since September 20, 2013.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee meniscal tear as secondary to his service-connected status post total left knee replacement.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating and TDIU due to his service-connected left knee disability. A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his left knee condition.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased evaluations of osteoarthritis associated with left and right knee ACL reconstructions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disability, including potential pre-service conditions and post-service work injuries. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities and a low back disorder should be remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disorder, finding that his current knee disorders are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for an upper back disability, but denied service connection for left knee, right knee, and right hip disabilities.,There is no current evidence of a left or right knee disability at any time during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeals regarding TBI, headaches, and SMC based on need for aid and attendance have been withdrawn. The appeal regarding the left knee condition is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and left foot conditions as well as bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not found to be related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Service connection is also denied for a left ankle disability and a left knee disability due to the need for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions. The residuals of a left heel condition will be addressed in conjunction with these other issues.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for degenerative changes of the left shoulder and left knee status post ACL reconstruction have been denied, with the claims being remanded for further development.,Higher ratings are not currently warranted for these conditions based on current evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral knee and foot disabilities due to errors in how they were rated, including a failure to consider whether she should be rated as having four separate disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis, are currently rated at 10 percent for each knee. The rating is granted as the conditions meet the criteria of direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is secondary to his service-connected disabilities, specifically his bilateral ankle disabilities, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, intercostal muscle strain, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies.