Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, left leg condition, and left knee disability. The claims are being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, acquired psychiatric disability (depression), and gynecological disability (miscarriage residuals).

The Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 70% evaluation, but his right knee disorder and TDIU claim are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's initial ratings for vasomotor rhinitis, left wrist condition, and right ankle disability are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.,The Veteran's initial rating for a right knee disability is being remanded as his representative submitted an independent medical opinion suggesting that it may be secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability. Updated VA examination is needed.,The Veteran's claims of varicose veins, back condition, gastrointestinal disability (manifesting in blood in stool), prostate condition, and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and medical opinions regarding their etiology.,The Veteran's recurrent sinus condition and right eye condition are being remanded as his representative submitted an independent medical opinion suggesting that they may be secondary to his service-connected vasomotor rhinitis. Updated VA examination is needed.

The Board has remanded the claims for neck, bilateral wrist, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, bilateral ankle, bilateral foot, bilateral shoulder, and bilateral elbow disabilities due to insufficient evidence.,No new or material evidence was provided to reopen any of these service connection claims.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, low back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted.,Service connection has been established for the Veteran's left knee disability, right knee disability, and low back disability.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, effective October 1, 2019. The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, effective October 1, 2019.,Both knees are currently evaluated under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261 for limitation of flexion and extension respectively.

The Board has granted service connection for a left eye condition due to sarcoidosis, which was diagnosed within one year of the Veteran's discharge from active duty. Service connection is denied for hypertension and right knee and left knee conditions.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee instability, finding that there is no objective evidence of symptoms more closely approximating 'moderate' or 'severe' subluxation or lateral instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the current severity of her right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that there are issues with the VA examiner's assessment of range of motion during flare-ups. The case is being remanded to clarify these issues and readjudicate the appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability, and the case is remanded for further development regarding right ear hearing loss, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

The Veteran's thalassemia trait, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are all service-connected. However, a rating in excess of 10 percent is denied for each condition except tinea versicolor which receives a 10% rating.

The Veteran's service connection claims for DDD of the lumbar spine, arthritis of the right knee, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy (claimed as bilateral hip disability) have all been granted.,Service connection has been established for DDD of the lumbar spine, arthritis of the right knee, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and missing medical records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for lower back pain, bilateral knee conditions, and an undiagnosed illness related to Gulf War Syndrome.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including migraine headaches and posttraumatic stress disorder. The evaluation for migraine headaches remains at 50 percent.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. From August 12, 2008 to the present, a separate rating of 10 percent for mild instability and from July 12, 2019 to the present, a separate rating of 10 percent for limited extension are granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a left knee scar was denied. The claim for increased rating for his left knee disability, which included pain and limitation of motion, was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a separate 10 percent rating for right knee lateral instability, beginning March 10, 2017 is granted. The claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis and for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee lateral instability are remanded.