Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted a rating of 20 percent for the entire appellate period, while his right fifth metacarpal fracture with traumatic arthritis and left knee chondromalacia are each rated at their current levels.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current symptoms and functional impairment of the service-connected right knee disabilities, including the scar.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss, but granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus.,Service connection was not established for the left knee disability or bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. However, the Veteran's current diagnosis of bilateral tinnitus is supported by his lay statements regarding symptoms experienced during service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss, were denied. He was granted separate 10% ratings for each knee under Diagnostic Code 5257 effective January 7, 2019.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (including PTSD, CAD, DM II, low back condition, left knee condition, and peripheral neuropathy) are of sufficient severity to preclude substantially gainful employment from May 15, 2008 to May 8, 2012.

The Board has denied a rating higher than 10 percent for limitation of extension of the left knee, finding that the Veteran's extension is limited to no more than 10 degrees. The issues of service connection for instability and flexion are addressed in later decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations and missing private treatment records. The Veteran will need an adequate VA examination of her right knee, including testing on active and passive motion with weight-bearing and without weight-bearing.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, currently rated at 10 percent each.

The Board denied service connection for right and left hip disorders, as well as right and left knee disorders, finding that the current conditions did not have their onset during active service or are otherwise etiologically related to active service.,Service connection was also denied for the right and left knee disorders due to a lack of evidence showing causation.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The rating claims for right and left knee disabilities are remanded, as is the TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right below-the-knee amputation, finding that there was no evidence to support his assertion of being en route to report for duty at the time of the accident. The decision is based on a lack of credible evidence and inconsistencies in the Veteran's statements.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee flexion prior to September 9, 2014, and a separate rating of 20 percent but no higher for moderate instability of the right knee from May 7, 2012, to September 8, 2014, is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not establish a causal relationship between the Veteran's current right knee disability and his military service or to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for left knee instability, limitation of flexion prior to February 7, 2013, and limitation of extension since February 7, 2013 have all been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral knee instability is rated at 30 percent effective February 12, 2014. The left and right knees are each rated at 10 percent for chondromalacia.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's ability to work prior to December 4, 2017. The matter is now referred for further development and consideration of an extraschedular TDIU rating.

The Veteran's claimed conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board denied all claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle due to a significant worsening since the last examination. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for increased rating of allergic rhinitis was denied. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a bilateral knee disability due to incomplete examinations.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities, as they may be related to his service-connected back and hip conditions. The claims are therefore being remanded for further examination.