Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral hearing loss disability, but denied the claim for service connection for left knee disability.

The Veteran's cervical spine and left knee disorders are granted service connection.,Lyme disease is denied, as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 60 percent effective June 1, 2014. The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain is rated at 20 percent from November 2, 2019. Separate ratings of 10 percent are granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy. TDIU is also granted.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran. For sleep apnea and RLS, additional medical records are needed to determine their etiology. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for a separate compensable evaluation for dislocated semiluar cartilage and residual effects of the right knee, symptomatic removal of semiluar cartilage of the right knee, and service connection for a left knee disability as secondary to the Veteran’s service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of discussion in the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether any current knee disability is consistent with the mechanism of injury described by the Veteran at his hearing. The claim of entitlement to a 10 percent rating based on multiple, noncompensable service-connected disabilities will be deferred until the remanded claims are resolved.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals related to the issues of rating his left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee sprain, and left knee instability. As a result, these matters are dismissed.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right and left ankle disorders, knee disorders, flatfeet, hypertension, headaches, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. The Board finds that an additional VA examination is needed to ascertain the current severity of his service-connected bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for skin cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, and a heart disorder are remanded due to the need for further development regarding herbicide exposure and possible verification of in-service events. The Board also finds that VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current disorders.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine its relationship to his military service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and low back disorder are remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine their nature and etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition, right knee condition as secondary to the left knee condition, and back condition as secondary to the left knee condition. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions were aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of GERD, knee disabilities, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for low back, left knee, and right knee conditions due to lack of substantial compliance with prior remand instructions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to the Veteran's failure to attend scheduled VA examinations. The claims will be readjudicated after rescheduling the missed examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's cervical spine disorder is related to her active duty service or caused by her service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability and bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis, as there are outstanding VA and private treatment records that need to be obtained.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, left knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis of the left knee, right knee, and right ankle tendonitis have been granted increased ratings. The left knee is rated at 30% effective December 16, 2018. The right knee is rated at 30% effective June 15, 2020 for lateral instability. The right ankle tendonitis is rated at 30% effective December 16, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to unresolved issues regarding service connection for knee disabilities and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board has granted a separate evaluation of 10 percent for left knee instability, but denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee strain.