Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions to address the claims of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, head injuries, left eye welding burns, sleep disorders, low back disabilities, knee and ankle issues. The appeals are related to in-service exposure or other direct causes.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left knee, finding that her current condition is related to her military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of back disability, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Board found that there is no evidence showing a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the right knee scar claim has been granted. The other two claims remain pending as they are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding no evidence of chronic conditions in service or continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran's current bilateral knee disorders are attributed to age, weight, heredity, repetitive stress injury, or athletics.,For the increased rating claim, the Board found that the Veteran’s left arm disability with muscle atrophy and elbow ankylosis warranted a 50% rating effective May 16, 2019. The Board noted that prior to this date, the condition was rated as 40%.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient VA examinations and missing service records. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is being evaluated for possible secondary to PTSD, and his left knee condition needs further examination.

The Veteran's left ankle arthritis and PTSD have been granted service connection. The initial disability rating for PTSD has been increased to 70 percent, effective from March 21, 2014. Bilateral hearing loss, headaches, acid reflux, residual scar, right knee disability, left knee disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, sciatica (left lower extremity), and sciatica (right lower extremity) have been dismissed.

The Veteran's right knee disability and need for SMC are being remanded due to the need for a compliant VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected chondromalacia patella with subluxing of the left knee and entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease with Baker's Cyst and limited flexion due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee flexion disabilities, as well as extension disabilities, were denied initial disability ratings in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent for the period from July 8, 2011 to March 4, 2020.

The Board has remanded the cases for further evaluation due to failure of the Veteran to report for a VA examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and a new VA medical opinion regarding service connection for left shoulder and left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.,New evidence has been received that relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims for entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD), and disorders of the right hand and bilateral fingers. Therefore, these claims are reopened.,No new and material evidence was received to reopen the claims for entitlement to service connection for a bilateral ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, left hand disorder, carpal tunnel syndrome, or disorders of the right hand and bilateral fingers. These claims remain denied on the merits.,The Veteran's current bilateral elbow disorder is not related to his service, as there was no evidence of such during service. The claim for reopening is denied.,No new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for entitlement to service connection for a left hand disorder. This claim remains denied on the merits.,New and material evidence has been received that relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims for entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, but these claims remain denied on the merits.,No new and material evidence was received to reopen the claims for entitlement to service connection for disorders of the right hand and bilateral fingers. These claims remain denied on the merits.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and PTSD) is related to his service, as there is nexus evidence linking it to service. The claim for reopening is granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 30 percent disabling, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran’s right knee has not lacked more than 20 degrees of extension at any time during the appeal period and his lay reports of symptoms are considered along with range-of-motion testing results. Instability of the right knee is rated as 10 percent disabling, but no higher. A separate rating for a meniscal tear is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of her service-connected knee and radiculopathy disabilities, as well as her claim for a TDIU. Additional evidence was added to the record since the last decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, back disability (secondary to a knee disability), left hip disability (secondary to a knee disability), and right hip disability (secondary to a knee disability). The decision was based on the absence of evidence showing that any of these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and left knee disability based on new and material evidence are granted, with an effective date of August 28, 2006.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected cervical spine, right knee, left knee, and right knee disorders. The VA will also obtain any outstanding medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left and right knee degenerative joint disease (gouty arthritis) are granted. A separate 10% rating is assigned for groin pain associated with the Veteran’s service-connected right hydrocele and loss of left testicle.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's low back disability, right leg nerve disorder (sciatica), and right knee disability are all in question.