Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's initial rating for degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees was denied, with a maximum 10 percent rating assigned.,Effective November 1, 2018, the Veteran received a 100 percent rating for his service-connected depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability, specifically whether it is related to service. The Veteran contends that his pain began in service and is due to cumulative wear and tear from in-service activities.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and granted a separate rating of 20 percent for right knee semilunar dislocated cartilage with frequent episodes of 'locking', pain, and effusion into the joint. The Veteran's other claims were not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee pain and a right shoulder condition have been denied.,His claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for his mood disorder has also been denied.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder conditions and bilateral knee conditions, finding that the Veteran's current diagnoses of osteoarthritis are not related to his military service.,Service connection was denied as there is no evidence showing a chronic condition during service or within one year post-service, and the medical opinions found no link between the current conditions and service.

The Board has denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and has remanded the remaining issues including increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, degenerative disc disease, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and TDIU.

The Board has found no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right hand disability, psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), low back disability, bilateral pes planus, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for varicose veins of the right leg and a separate rating for left knee instability. A new rating of 20 percent was assigned for a meniscal tear in the left knee since November 15, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's current knee conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that any current condition is more likely related to obesity and age. The case was remanded for further development regarding entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to September 26, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee condition was rated at 10%, while the right foot condition remained at 10%. The Veteran did not meet criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's fracture right tibia and fibula with knee disability is granted a rating of 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision. A separate rating for limitation of extension of the right leg is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left knee conditions have been denied as the evidence does not show that his disabilities meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's left knee strain with tendonitis and degenerative arthritis has been rated at 10 percent, while his chronic left ankle sprain with internal derangement is rated at 20 percent. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right knee disorder and low back disorder.,The Veteran’s right knee condition was found to be unrelated to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to failure of VA examinations. The AOJ must make reasonable efforts to accommodate the Veteran with respect to his current confinement and reschedule the requested VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance or housebound is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA contract examination of the left knee was not associated with the claims file until after the decision on appeal, which could affect the rating assigned.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative changes, both menisci, left knee and residuals of a right knee injury with chondromalacia patella with arthritis have been denied staged initial ratings in excess of the current assigned ratings.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma is granted a 60 percent rating, effective December 28, 2012. The right knee meniscal tear is granted a 20 percent rating.

The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain, finding that the Veteran's range of motion did not warrant a higher rating based on her symptoms and examination findings.