Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to an incomplete opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected Hodgkin’s disease.

The Veteran's increased rating for bilateral hearing loss appeal has been withdrawn.,Service connection is granted for cervical spine degenerative arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right shoulder degenerative joint disease. Service connection is also remanded for left ankle arthritis and a bilateral foot condition.,Service connection is granted for left knee arthritis.,Service connection is granted for right shoulder degenerative joint disease.,Service connection is granted for left ankle arthritis.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board does not find any basis to grant a higher initial rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left testicular varicocele, lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome (including pain and limitation of motion), and recurrent lateral instability due to left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The issues are being remanded for further development including examinations that comply with the holdings in Sharp v. Shulkin.

The Board denied increased ratings for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the schedular criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death. The appellant contends that the Veteran's coronary artery disease, which was not service-connected, and his service-connected left hip and knee arthritis disabilities caused him to fall and fracture his hip, leading to surgery and ultimately resulting in his death.

The Veteran's hypertension, left little finger fracture, and right knee disability were all remanded for further evaluation. The Board found that a compensable rating was not warranted for any of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for low back condition and right knee condition due to inadequate VA medical opinions, requiring new evaluations.

The Veteran's right and left knee chondromalacia patella with ACL tear are currently rated at 30 percent each under Diagnostic Code 5256 for ankylosis of the knee. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating, thus denying both claims.

The reduction of the right knee rating from 20 percent to 10 percent was improper, and restoration of the 20 percent rating is granted. A separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability and a separate 10 percent rating for symptomatic removal of cartilage are also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorder and bilateral shin splints are remanded due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The claim for headaches is also remanded as the RO did not include it in the SOC.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee DJD, iron deficiency anemia, muscle contraction headaches, leiomyomas of the uterus, left foot bunion deformity, and primary insomnia are all denied. The Veteran is currently receiving a 10% rating for her left knee DJD from August 2014 onwards.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed left knee disability. The claim is also reopened due to new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent chronic sinusitis (also claimed as allergic rhinitis) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but denied service connection for a right knee condition. The decision is based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his service-connected allergic rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, initial increased rating for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, and a neck disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses are not related to his military service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all appeals regarding higher initial disability ratings for various orthopedic conditions.,No new evidence or changes in the Veteran's condition have been presented, and no further development is required.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for her left knee condition is remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and an examination to determine the current nature and severity of her service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disorder, hearing loss, and right knee disorder. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected DDD of the thoracolumbar spine. Service connection for left and right knee disabilities remains denied, but a higher evaluation (40%) is granted for DDD of the thoracolumbar spine.