Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disorders, but denied service connection for a back disorder.

The Board has denied service connection for allergies and OSA, but has remanded the claims for a left knee disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's right knee condition was granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability and a temporary increase in ratings from January 24, 2010 to June 21, 2013. The claim is denied for a higher rating for limitation of motion.

The Veteran's case was remanded due to the RO not considering all relevant evidence, including a VA examination report and private treatment records. The issue of rating more than 20 percent for right knee degenerative arthritis since May 19, 2014 is now being reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement, is due to an in-service accident and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's left femur closed transverse fracture residuals are rated at 10 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is denied.,The Veteran's left knee arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for a higher rating is also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his right knee scar and a rating in excess of 10 percent for painful right knee scar, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for these ratings.

The Board has granted separate 10 percent ratings for left knee chondromalacia patella and old tear left inner groin adductor muscle group, effective August 14, 2002. The appeal regarding an earlier effective date is dismissed as moot.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and evaluations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including gout, low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle sprain, lower extremity lumbar radiculopathy, gastrointestinal pain associated with Gulf War undiagnosed illness, and headaches associated with Gulf War undiagnosed illness.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to insufficient reasoning in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's initial 20% evaluation for left knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear prior to September 15, 2015 is granted. The Veteran's higher than 30% evaluation for status post left knee replacement after October 1, 2016 is denied. TDIU prior to January 1, 2012 is also denied.

The Board has previously remanded the issues of service connection for a back condition, neck condition, and bilateral knee condition. These issues need further examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was granted. The claims for initial disability ratings in excess of the current ratings for right knee instability, right knee limitation of flexion, and left knee limitation of flexion were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition, finding that there was no evidence linking his current disability to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure of the Veteran to report for a scheduled examination. The Veteran is advised that she may have adverse effects on her appeal if she fails to cooperate with further attempts to schedule an examination or does not report for any scheduled VA examination without good cause shown.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disorder and a low back disorder, finding no link between the disorders and events in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional VA opinions regarding the Veteran's service-connected painful hand, knee, and foot joints. The Veteran will be given another opportunity to provide supporting evidence and authorize VA to obtain any outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral ankle and right knee disabilities, as well as a back disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are not related to his military service.,Service connection for posttraumatic headaches is remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are rated at 20 percent each, effective throughout. The case is remanded for further development regarding the right ankle disability and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The left and right knee strains, as well as plantar fasciitis of the feet, were denied. Service connection for PTSD was also denied. However, an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for lumbar spine disability prior to December 17, 2014 and from March 1, 2015 to November 30, 2015 was granted.