Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for a low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left ankle disability, bilateral leg disability, bilateral hammertoes, and bilateral hip disability. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings on PTSD with mood disorder, right knee strain with arthritis, and right ear hearing loss is remanded due to procedural defects.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was denied as not related to service. The Board found that the Veteran’s left knee and right knee disorders, including their secondary effects on his big toe conditions, were also not related to service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a ratable hearing loss disability, and his right knee disability was rated as 10 percent disabling overall.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee condition is being remanded due to the submission of new VA medical records.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions due to inadequate VA opinions addressing whether these conditions are aggravated by a service-connected condition (hallux valgus).

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to August 18, 2015 and from that date. His degenerative arthritis of the right knee is rated at 10 percent. Right knee instability was not found to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's left knee disability, prior to December 8, 2014 and from July 1, 2016, is not productive of ankylosis with flexion between 10 and 20 degrees, extension limited to 30 degrees or higher, or impairment of the tibia and fibula with malunion and marked knee or ankle disability. Therefore, a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee status post total knee arthroplasty is denied.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability prior to August 23, 2018 is not productive of forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees, or the combined range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine not greater than 120 degrees, or muscle spasm or guarding severe enough to result in an abnormal gait or abnormal spinal contour such as scoliosis, reversed lordosis, or abnormal kyphosis. Therefore, a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine with chronic low back syndrome is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination, requiring a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee arthritis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various lower extremity and back disabilities due to obesity, as they raise issues regarding whether the Veteran's PTSD caused or aggravated his obesity.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellar tendonitis are rated at 10% each, but the Board denied any higher ratings as there was no evidence of ankylosis or impairment of the tibia/fibula. The knees were found to have normal flexion and extension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for psychiatric disorders, sleep disorders, and musculoskeletal conditions have been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed in-service events or exposures.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for an initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis, left hand and finger disability, lumbar degenerative disc disease and arthritis, medial synovitis and medial plica syndrome of the left knee, anterior pain syndrome of the right knee, other stressor and trauma related disorder, psoriasis and dermatitis, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diarrhea, and lung condition. The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is being remanded for further evaluation, and his claim for TDIU is also being remanded due to the potential impact on his employment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, vertigo, acid reflux, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to lack of a diagnosed condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease. The issues of service connection for left and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left knee arthritis and left knee instability, as they need additional medical records to be considered.

The Veteran's cervical spine degenerative disc disease and left upper extremity radiculopathy are granted service connection. The bilateral shoulder disability, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are denied. Service connection for the left trigeminal neuralgia is granted with a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left shoulder disability and left knee instability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective May 27, 2015 due to his service-connected disabilities resulting in severe physical limitations.