Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus, bilateral knee disabilities, a left elbow scar, and a dental disability to obtain additional service treatment records. The Veteran must provide copies of any DD Forms 2808 and 2807-1 that were completed in or around June 2006.

The Board has granted the restoration of service connection for left knee strain and right knee strain, but remanded the cases regarding a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability based on limitation of motion, but granted a separate compensable rating for slight instability. The appeal is therefore considered 'mixed' as some issues were granted and others not.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals on all issues related to service connection and increased rating for disabilities, including low back lumbar sprain, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board dismissed these appeals as a result.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and a knee disability (claimed as knee popping) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for left knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis was not incurred in or caused by active service and is not secondary to a service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to new and material evidence. The Board also granted service connection for the right knee disability, finding that the Veteran had continuous symptoms since his reported in-service injury.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, bilateral ankle, and bilateral knee disorders due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was also denied as there is no current diagnosis. The Veteran's claimed psychiatric symptoms were not found during the VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal includes a request for an increased rating for right patellofemoral syndrome and a request for an earlier effective date for service connection. The Board has determined that the issues are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various lower extremity disabilities due to inadequate examination and lack of medical records. The examiner must consider functional impairment caused by pain, even if there is no specific diagnosis.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete VA examination for left knee disability. The Veteran is requested to undergo another evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residual scars from total knee replacements has been granted, with a 10% disability rating effective as of the date of the decision. The other issues related to effective dates and ratings have been denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection, and a separate 10 percent rating for residuals of his right knee meniscectomy is granted. The Veteran's claim for higher ratings on his right knee patellofemoral syndrome remains denied.

The Veteran's asthma and chronic migraine headaches have been granted service connection. The right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, lumbar-sacral strain, and right knee patella-femoral syndrome issues are remanded for further examination and rating determinations. The major depressive disorder issue has been fully resolved with a grant of higher ratings.

The Board denied service connection for low back disorder, left knee disorder, and fracture of the right big toe as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, right hip arthritis with limitation to extension, right hip arthritis with limitation to abduction, right hip arthritis with limitation to flexion, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and thoracic & lumbar spine spondylosis as part of her increased rating claims.

The Veteran's hallux valgus is rated at the maximum allowable under VA regulations, and no higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran’s degenerative arthritis of the left knee with history of chondromalacia patella does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran’s degenerative arthritis of the right knee with history of chondromalacia patella also does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of back and right knee disorders, so the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for right and left knee disabilities, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea have been reopened. The Board has determined that further medical examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right knee osteoarthritis is denied. For the rating period from March 31, 2016, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis is denied. A separate disability rating of 10 percent but no higher for left knee instability is granted.