Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and DDD of the lumbar spine due to incomplete medical opinions in the record. Further development is needed.

The Board denied the petitions to reopen previously denied claims for service connection for left knee disability, left ankle disability, and right ankle disability. The claim for upper respiratory disability other than service-connected laryngeal spasms was also denied.

The Veteran's appeals for overpayment, service connection for sleep apnea, increased ratings for GERD, right knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and radiculopathy of the lower extremities have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran's attorney.

The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his left knee disability was denied. The maximum schedular rating of 30 percent has been in effect since October 20, 2008, and the Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5257 (for lateral instability), 5260 (limitation of flexion), or 5261 (limitation of extension).,From April 2, 2013 to September 2, 2013, the Veteran's left knee disability was rated at a separate 40 percent for limitation of extension. However, from November 1, 2014 to November 6, 2015, he received a 60 percent rating for total left knee replacement due to severe painful motion.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability with left lower extremity radiculopathy. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding a higher rating for lumbar strain, a higher rating for ulnar neuropathy, and service connection for OSA.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the current conditions and active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to initial disability ratings in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine, left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities due to insufficient evidence from VA examinations conducted during a flare-up.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his cervical spine disability and peripheral neuropathy of all extremities, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to April 23, 2008.

The Veteran's cervical spine condition was rated at 20% effective August 28, 2018. The lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome was rated at 40% effective April 26, 2018.,Effective September 9, 2016, the Veteran's radiculopathy of the right upper extremity and left upper extremity were granted service connection. The right knee osteoarthritis and left knee strain have been rated at 20% since their respective effective dates.,The reduction in ratings for the knees was restored to pre-reduction levels.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as migraines secondary to residuals of fractured sternum, are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,An effective date of May 25, 2010, is granted for the award of service connection for residuals of fractured sternum.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions remain pending and need further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability and instability have been denied. The criteria to establish entitlement to the requested evaluations are not met.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis and status post total knee replacement, which were a progression of the Veteran's in-service arthrotomy for Osgood-Schlatter's disease. The issue of an increased rating for the left knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for GERD, a headache disorder, sinusitis, a right knee disability, and a right ankle disability have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. Service connection is granted for GERD.,Service connection is also granted for a headache disorder. The Board found that there was equipoise in the evidence regarding whether the Veteran had a headache disorder during service and still has one today.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral total knee arthroplasties as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected stress fractures of the tibia and pes planus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, left hip osteoarthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for right achilles tendon tear, left knee disorder, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder. The issues have been remanded.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right knee instability, but remanded to obtain updated treatment records and an examination to determine the current severity of his disability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's knee disabilities, including an increased rating for left knee arthralgia, a higher initial rating for right knee strain, and a compensable initial rating for left knee patella anesthesia. The effective date of service connection for left knee patella anesthesia is also being remanded. Additionally, the issue of TDIU prior to September 14, 2010, which is related to these claims, is also being remanded.