Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's asthma, rhinitis, and sleep apnea have been granted service connection. The initial compensable disability ratings for IBS and left knee patella chondritis were denied. The appeal on lumbar degenerative disc disease, dermatitis, PTSD, chronic sinusitis, GERD, gall bladder disease, post cholecystectomy, headaches, and chronic fatigue syndrome is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA and Social Security Administration records that need to be obtained for a complete review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The cervical spine arthritis claim was denied with a rating greater than 10 percent prior to November 13, 2016 and 30 percent thereafter. Claims for bilateral pes planus, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, right hand disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right hip disorder were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis, joint pain, bilateral knee disabilities, hypertension, and prostate cancer as the evidence did not show an in-service event, injury, or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence. Service connection is granted for this condition, as well as for a headache disorder. The claims for chronic neck disorder, chronic back disorder, chronic right knee disorder, and chronic left knee disorder are denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his left knee disability and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for the left knee disability, as it did not meet the criteria for ankylosis or other specific diagnostic codes. For TDIU, the Veteran was employed full-time in various positions during the appeal period, which prevented him from being considered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the previous remand directives were not substantially complied with and another remand is warranted. The Veteran's TDIU claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for knee conditions and back conditions are inadequate, and thus remands these claims for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient reasons and bases for denying service connection for a right knee disorder, specifically failing to consider whether the Veteran's right knee pain constitutes a current disorder. The matter is now being remanded again for compliance with previous orders.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the condition is less likely than not related to service or caused by the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a right leg disability due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right knee disability is rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261. The right shoulder disability remains at a 20 percent rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination in determining whether the Veteran's right shin or knee disability is related to his military service. The examiner did not address the discrepancy between symptoms in the Veteran's left and right knees, nor considered the fact that he was approximately 29 years old when he reported onset of symptoms.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the reduction of disability ratings for left knee limitation of extension and instability was improper, and has ordered a remand to address these issues.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed as the claims are being reviewed by a Higher-Level Review process conducted by an experienced adjudicator of the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder and a lumbar spine disorder were denied in March 2004. The Veteran submitted petitions to reopen her claims on November 21, 2012, which resulted in the grants of service connection effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for right foot callus, entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for right knee DJD, and entitlement to service connection for right foot pes planus due to inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease, left knee has been rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that additional development is needed due to an increase in symptoms since the last examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of a temporary 100 percent rating (convalescence) for service-connected right knee disability has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issue of increased ratings for a right knee disability.