Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection for this condition is denied. The issues of service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, low back disability, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10% for limitation of motion, with a separate 10% rating for status post meniscectomy. The left shoulder labial tear disability was granted a 20% rating prior to January 16, 2020 and a 30% rating since that date.,The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10%. A separate 10% rating for status post meniscectomy has been granted. The left shoulder labial tear disability was previously rated at 20%, but the claimant now receives a 30% rating since January 16, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for right shoulder disability, gastrointestinal disability (to include as due to exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune), bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have all been denied. The Board found insufficient evidence to support the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left shoulder rotator cuff tear and other orthopedic conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since November 14, 2019.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including hypertension, IBS, left knee disability, slurred speech, and right and left foot disabilities. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, left hand disability, and lower extremity neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions and a TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee ligament insufficiencies are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for right knee instability and patellofemoral pain syndrome and anterior cruciate ligament strain was denied. The Board found that the current 20 percent rating for right knee instability is appropriate, as it reflects moderate joint instability. For patellofemoral pain syndrome, the Board determined a 10 percent rating is the highest possible under applicable criteria.

The Veteran's claims for left hand/thumb disability, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, chondromalacia patella of the right knee, and left foot disability have been reopened. The claims for left hand/thumb disability and left foot disability are granted, while the claim for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder is denied.,The Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability has led to a secondary service connection for left foot disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, shell fragment wound residuals, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, left knee patellar tendonitis, tinnitus, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, rendered him unable to secure and maintain gainful employment as of October 1, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU rating effective from June 16, 2016.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The claim for acquired psychiatric disability remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition and sleep apnea, as well as his claim for TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues with these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding no evidence to support his assertions or that his conditions are related to service. The Veteran was granted a TDIU and basic eligibility for Dependents' Education Assistance.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is currently rated as 10 percent disabling based on painful motion. A separate 10 percent rating for instability has been granted.,Right knee degenerative joint disease is not rated higher than noncompensable due to lack of flexion limitation, but a separate 10 percent rating for instability has been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral foot disability, right knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis from August 31, 2010 to July 4, 2019, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis on and after July 5, 2019 are all granted. The Veteran's service connection for these conditions is based on aggravation of a preexisting condition during active duty.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and meniscus tear have been rated based on their respective conditions. The rating for the arthritis has been remanded, as well as a claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and entitlement to TDIU prior to May 6, 2013 due to insufficient examination findings regarding knee instability. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion clarifying whether the Veteran experiences left knee instability based on his lay statements and treatment records.

The appeal for service connection of multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and earlier effective dates have been dismissed. A rating of 50 percent has been granted for posttraumatic cephalgia with migraine headaches from September 19, 2011 to June 17, 2014.