Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination, specifically in relation to assessing functional impairment during flare-ups. The TDIU claim is also deferred until these issues are resolved.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cervical spine disability, bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy (bilateral shoulder and elbow conditions), bilateral wrist arthritis, and bilateral knee arthritis. The claims for right foot gout and right foot condition (to include pes planus and plantar fasciitis) have been remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and a skin disorder, to include lichen simplex chronicus. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and clarification of certain issues, including whether his disabilities are related to service or if they were aggravated by service. The liver disability claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent for instability and a separate rating of 20 percent for meniscus tear with locking, pain, and effusion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examinations and a need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right knee disability based on limitation of extension and for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability based on limitation of flexion due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is also requested to provide any pertinent VA or private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions.,Specifically, the knee and ankle claims require compliance with the Court’s holding in Correia, and the bilateral elbow and ulnar nerve neuropathy claims require new medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, status post medial compartment arthroplasty. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for headaches and entitlement to a total disability rating for compensation based on unemployability of the individual are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as the RO did not grant a compensable rating for migraines, despite the Veteran experiencing frequent and severe headaches. The highest schedular rating available (50%) was assigned.

The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as osteoarthritis, status post total knee replacement, is granted service connection.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis, is granted service connection.

The appeal for entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability is dismissed.,Issues of entitlement to service connection for a left ankle/foot disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left knee ligament injury was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability.,The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent from December 3, 2019 for chondromalacia with osteoarthrosis of the left knee was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to symptoms related to pain and decreased mobility.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not show a significant abnormal gait favoring the right knee and lacked medical training to provide a nexus opinion.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it has not resulted in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine to 60 degrees or less, a combined range of motion to 120 degrees or less, ankylosis, or abnormal gait or spinal contour.,The Veteran's residuals of cervical laminectomy do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it has not resulted in forward flexion of the cervical spine to 15 degrees or less or favorable ankylosis of the entire cervical spine.,The Veteran's left knee injury, degenerative joint disease does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it has not resulted in dislocated semilunar cartilage, ankylosis, recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, flexion limited to at least 30 degrees, or extension limited to at least 15 degrees.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee DJD and instability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to outstanding VA treatment records and physical therapy records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a low back disability due to incomplete development.,No current diagnosis of a left wrist condition was found during the examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, back, and neck disabilities as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability.,There is no evidence linking the Veteran’s service-connected right knee disability to his left knee, back, or neck disabilities.

Service connection for a bilateral knee disability is granted. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains denied, as the Veteran's current symptoms are more likely related to age rather than service. The case of bilateral ankle disabilities is remanded.