Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis and denied service connection for left ear hearing loss. The decision on the left knee issue is based on direct evidence, while the denial of left ear hearing loss is due to a lack of current disability as defined by VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and will need to obtain an updated VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature of his service, particularly concerning his time at ROTC summer camp in 1967.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected patellofemoral syndrome/chondromalacia with degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees, as well as instability of the right knee, and low back disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities were denied increased ratings, with the case being remanded for further examination.,Service connection for a left wrist condition (claimed as cyst/benign growth) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was also remanded.

The Board has granted a combined 40 percent rating for the right knee disability, but denied an increased rating for the right shoulder disability. The case is remanded to obtain VA treatment records from before October 3, 2000.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions, as they are related to service-connected neck and back disabilities. The VA examinations provided were inadequate, and new examinations and opinions are necessary.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his claimed right and left knee disorders, as well as a lower back disorder, all of which he contends are secondary to his service-connected left hip disorder. The Board found that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for hip disabilities (left and right), malaria, knee disability (left), ankle disabilities (right and left), and onychomycosis of the toenails bilaterally.,Service connection was not established for any of these conditions due to lack of a current diagnosis or credible evidence linking them to service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for his left knee condition from 40 percent to 40 percent effective November 1, 2019, as the evidence did not show sustained improvement in his condition that would warrant a lower rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent from July 12, 2019 to October 18, 2019. The evidence does not support a higher evaluation.,The Veteran’s post-traumatic headaches are currently evaluated as 50 percent disabling since March 25, 2013. A higher schedular rating is not available.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, right knee patellar tendonitis, and tinnitus, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU based on the combined rating of 80 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for right knee disability, hallux valgus of the right big toe, GERD, respiratory disorder, chronic sleep disorder, and left shoulder disability due to a lack of service treatment records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee arthritis, finding no new evidence relevant to either claim. The claim for left knee arthritis was reopened due to new MRI scan and emergency department records, but it was still denied as there is no direct or presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring an additional VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection, and his left ankle degenerative arthritis was rated at 20 percent. The right and left knee disabilities were denied increased ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities have not been rated higher than 10 percent due to the lack of compensable limitation of motion.,The Veteran's service-connected right hip disability has not been rated higher than 10 percent due to the lack of compensable limitation of flexion, abduction, adduction, or rotation.,The Veteran's service-connected right hip disability has not been rated higher than 10 percent due to the lack of compensable limitation of extension.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for right hip and right knee conditions, finding new evidence relevant to these issues. The appeal is allowed in part.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including obtaining medical records from the Social Security Administration and conducting new examinations to address service connection claims.