Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the extension of a temporary total evaluation for right knee convalescence, and remanded both the increased rating claim for right knee residuals and the service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are pending further action.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated at zero percent, as there is no evidence of more severe impairment.,For the right knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome prior to September 19, 2018, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,From September 19, 2018, the Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent due to limited range of motion and pain. However, this rating is denied as it does not exceed the maximum allowable under the applicable diagnostic codes.,For the left knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome, the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination to determine if any current left leg disability is related to service.

The Board has identified new evidence that was submitted after the May 2018 Statement of the Case. The Veteran has not waived AOJ review of this additional evidence, so a Supplemental Statement of the Case must be issued to consider all evidence received.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disability, finding that it manifested in service and is related to his military service.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The right ear hearing loss claim is remanded for further examination.,An increased rating for hypertension was dismissed due to lack of a timely appeal. The claims for bilateral knee joint diseases are also remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a liver condition was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The appeals to reopen service connection claims for gout, lumbar strain, and hypertension were all denied due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right and left knees is granted as service connected due to aggravation by her service-connected lumbar spine disability. The claims for increased evaluations for lumbosacral and thoracic degenerative disc disease, cervical degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS), and an earlier effective date for TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including degenerative joint disease and a meniscus condition, is not rated higher than the current 10 percent for limitation of motion or instability. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for removal of semilunar cartilage.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions from a previous VA examiner and requests for additional medical records.

The Board denied an initial rating higher than 10 percent for hypertension and service connection for multiple joint pain. The Veteran's hypertension was found not to meet the criteria for a higher rating, while his claim for service connection for multiple joint pain was denied due to lack of evidence of a current diagnosed disability or qualifying chronic disability.

The Board has denied service connection for left ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities as the evidence does not show a current disability that had its onset during or is otherwise related to military service.

The Board has denied service connection for a left hand carpal injury, low back disorder, venereal warts, tinea versicolor, and right knee injury. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding these claims.,Service connection for a left wrist disorder remains pending as the Veteran's claim was not addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The initial rating for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his right knee disability and a combined disability rating greater than 40 percent are remanded due to incomplete information in the VA examination report, lack of consideration of effective date issues, and need for additional evidence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations, and additional evidence is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of cooperation in scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran will need to cooperate with rescheduling and attending an examination.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative joint disease was denied, and the Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260-5003.,A separate rating of 20 percent for right knee disability based on instability is granted from August 6, 2019.

The Board dismissed the appeals for all listed conditions as the Veteran withdrew her appeal through her attorney prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for right knee DJD and shin splints was denied. A separate 10% rating was granted for right knee instability, and a 30% evaluation was granted for GERD with IBS.