Knee Board decisions

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for left ear hearing loss, granted reinstatement of a 10 percent disability rating for hypertension, and denied a compensable disability rating for dry skin of the hands. The Board also denied increased ratings for left knee strain resulting in limited flexion and extension.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for right knee arthritis with painful extension prior to March 14, 2024, and an initial 10 percent evaluation for right knee instability. The claims for increased ratings were denied after that date.

The Board granted an initial 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right knee strain with degenerative arthritis, but remanded other issues including entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board remands the claim for a left knee disability to schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his condition.

The Board granted service connection for headaches, left knee strain, right knee strain, and acquired psychiatric disability (other specified trauma-and stressor-related disorder).

The Board granted service connection for a left knee condition and a right knee condition but denied service connection for migraines.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability due to insufficient evidence of a current diagnosis and lack of functional impairment.

The Board granted service connection for the veteran's claimed conditions, including iliotibial band syndrome of the left knee, a cervical spine disability, radiculopathy of the right and left upper extremities, alopecia totalis, a right hip disability, a left hip disability, a right elbow disability, a right shoulder disability, and a left shoulder disability.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral tinnitus, left foot disorder (flatfoot and plantar fasciitis), right foot disorder (flatfoot and plantar fasciitis), left ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability and related conditions, including right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right leg atrophy, left hip degenerative joint disease with osteoarthritis, and left knee total arthroplasty.

The Board granted service connection for left and right knee strain with crepitus, as well as a 20 percent rating for the right foot disability.

The Board remands the claims for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for a service-connected right knee disability, a compensable evaluation for a service-connected right knee residual surgical scars, and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to outstanding evidence and the need for additional examination.

The Board remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hip and knee disorders, to include as secondary to a service-connected left ankle disability, due to missing VA treatment records and inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis of the right shoulder, and osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis of the right knee prior to October 25, 2023. The claim for a left knee disability was also granted based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board granted service connection for GERD, left hip strain, and right knee strain with degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus but denied service connection for the remaining conditions.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. Several issues related to the Veteran's knees, psychiatric condition, right hip, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating more than 10 percent for left and right knee strain due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's disability picture without the beneficial effects of medication.

The Board granted service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis on a presumptive basis, but denied service connection for lumbosacral strain.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, cannabis use disorder, and cocaine use disorder from April 26, 2021, and an effective date of the same day for DEA benefits. The claim for TDIU was dismissed as moot.