Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, with a combined rating of 0 percent for both ears.,Both his left and right knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, back disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are denied. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for these conditions as secondary to service-connected residuals of frostbite.

An effective date of January 1, 2009 is granted for the increased rating of the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hearing loss disability, initial ratings for service-connected lumbar strain, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and right shoulder tendonitis, as well as a compensable rating for migraines, were denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected lumbosacral strain was also denied.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability, but denied an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left knee strain with internal derangement.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate examination reports, including a lack of consideration of recent treatment records. The Veteran will need to provide updated private and VA treatment records, and he will be scheduled for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back, left ankle, and right knee conditions have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than what was currently assigned.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including sleep apnea, knee and shoulder disorders, foot fungus, and headaches. The Veteran is required to provide updated medical records and undergo examinations for his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee on a direct basis, finding that these conditions are as likely as not attributable to in-service injuries sustained while parachuting.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at a maximum of 60 percent, resolving all doubts in his favor.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right knee disability and back disability to obtain new VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis, left shoulder arthritis, digestive issues (chronic constipation), and low back condition with lower extremity neuropathy were not shown as chronic in service or within the applicable presumptive period. Continuity of symptomatology is not established; and the disabilities are not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's bilateral tinnitus has been assigned a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum schedular rating authorized under Diagnostic Code (DC) 6260.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for his left knee degenerative joint disease has been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a sleep disability, right shoulder disability, lumbosacral myositis and lumbar disc degeneration, left knee tendonitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The cases are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's claims for fatigue, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee disability were denied as they are not considered service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a direct link between the conditions and active duty.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's left knee condition is related to service or secondary to his right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA examination for the right knee disability, and the Veteran is advised that failure to report for the examination will result in his claim being evaluated based on the record.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for residuals of an injury to the left leg and knee, but has remanded both the service connection claims due to the need for additional development. The back disability claim is inextricably intertwined with the left leg and knee claim.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee osteoarthritis, status post knee replacement, since March 1, 2019 was denied. However, the Veteran was granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability since March 1, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for new examinations and additional development.