Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various hand, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection, including for COPD and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are being reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

Your appeal for service connection for a left knee disorder has been dismissed because the issue was rendered moot by the grant of service connection at an initial rating of 10 percent effective March 13, 2010.

The Board has denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 10 percent rating for the left knee disability and has remanded the issue of entitlement to a higher rating.

The Veteran's asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, and posttraumatic headaches have been granted service connection. The Veteran is also granted an initial rating of 10 percent for his posttraumatic headaches. However, the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, specifically regarding service connection for lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as a higher rating for uveitis, conjunctivitis, episcleritis with dry eyes.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, with no higher ratings due to the lack of limitation of motion or instability. The Veteran’s back disability is currently rated at 10 percent.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has not yet been evaluated by VA audiologist.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability and lower back (lumbar) disability due to insufficient medical evidence on file. The claims will be reviewed again after a VA examination is conducted.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 50% effective as of March 26, 2020. The right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and left knee chondromalacia with a lateral meniscus tear, status post-surgical repair, remain under review for increased ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that it is not secondary to his service-connected right knee disability and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment prior to February 2, 2011. The evidence showed other disabilities affecting his ability to work, such as varicose veins and depression.

The Veteran's appeal regarding TBI, depressive disorder, lumbar spine disability, right knee strain and tendonitis, and left knee strain and tendonitis has been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal prior to a Board decision.

The Veteran's service-connected internal derangement with mild degenerative changes of the left and right knees have been rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has determined that additional or higher ratings are not warranted based on flexion limited to 30 degrees or less or extension limited to 10 degrees or more.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disabilities, right knee disabilities, and right-sided neuropathy. The decision also notes that the Veteran's current right-sided neuropathy may be a symptom of her service-connected migraines.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee pain, right shoulder condition, gum disease and jaw clicking due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder have been granted. Service connection is also established for a left knee condition.,However, the claim for bilateral hearing loss remains denied, and the claim for COPD and asthma requires further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to noncompliance with prior remand instructions, specifically regarding a VA examination for a right knee disability. The examiner was instructed to consider evidence of osteophytosis from an MRI and the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate etiology opinions provided by VA examiners. The Veteran's right knee disorder is found not to have pre-existed service, and a new opinion is needed regarding whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee disorder.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right wrist CTS and left knee patellofemoral syndrome have been reopened. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the current diagnosis and etiology of the Veteran’s knee conditions, including patellofemoral syndrome, and his wrist condition, including CTS.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee scars and status post total left knee arthroplasty are granted with specific disability ratings.