Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Right knee strain with limitation of flexion is rated at 10 percent and right knee instability is separately rated at 10 percent. The left knee strain with limitation of extension is rated at 20 percent from August 22, 2019, and left knee instability is separately rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's initial claims for bilateral knee pain were denied in November 2011 but reopened on March 27, 2017. The effective date of service connection for right and left knee disabilities was assigned as March 20, 2017.,SMC based on housebound status is not granted earlier than January 6, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, diabetes mellitus, and prostate cancer. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or herbicide exposure.,Service connection was denied because there is no medical evidence linking any current diagnoses to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability has been reopened, with the evidence showing a link between the Veteran's military service and his current condition.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left foot disability has been reopened, with the evidence showing a link between the Veteran's military service and his current condition.

The Veteran's application to reopen the service connection claim for right knee tendonitis is granted. To this extent only, the appeal is granted.,Entitlement to a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left ankle and entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the right ankle are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and now needs a new medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee disorder is related to his military service and whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected left ankle strain.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling due to painful motion and degenerative arthritis. A separate 10 percent rating for arthritis with painful motion has been granted.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as service-connected, with the onset during service.,Service connection for bilateral foot disability is granted. The Veteran's current disabilities are linked to his active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right and left hip disabilities, as well as his right and left knee disabilities are being reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence.,A VA examination is required to determine the etiology of the Veteran’s neck, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral flat feet and a bilateral knee disability, including as due to bilateral flat feet. The appeal was dismissed for diabetes mellitus and arthritis in both hands (claimed as pain in both hands).

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various joint disabilities due to incomplete records and inadequate examinations. The Veteran's current conditions are being evaluated, along with his in-service injury from a motor vehicle accident.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the examiner's report and the need for a new examination to clarify when the Veteran's osteoarthritis had its onset.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active duty service.,The VA examiners provided medical opinions concluding that the Veteran’s current knee strains are not related to his in-service airborne operations or any pre-existing ankle condition.

The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee, status post total left knee arthroplasty, and osteoarthritis of the right knee, with meniscal tear. The Board found that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the appellant's in-service duties involving heavy lifting.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral foot disorder, and disorders affecting his lower extremities due to insufficient opinions provided by VA examiners. The issues are being returned for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss and denied service connection for this condition. The rating for tinnitus was also denied as it is already at its maximum schedular rating. The back disability and knee disabilities are remanded due to new evidence and potential worsening.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected hip disability. The claims for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disorder are remanded.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was granted service connection, but his increased rating claims for degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy, and knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C had its onset during his service.

The Veteran is granted a separate 20 percent disability evaluation for dislocated semilunar cartilage with frequent episodes of locking, pain, and effusion since October 3, 2019. The other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and effective dates are remanded due to the need for additional medical records.,The Veteran is also required to provide private treatment records from his doctors.