Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis/Reiter's syndrome of the bilateral knees and arthritis (other than of bilateral knees and ankles, and lumbar spine) as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's abdominal muscle strain claim is dismissed. Service connection for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The appeal seeking to reopen a claim of service connection for a right knee condition is granted. Entitlement to an increased rating for the fracture of left third and fourth fingers is also granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for a chronic back disability is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 20 percent for right knee strain is remanded due to the need for additional examination and evidence.

The Board has denied service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine and remanded the issue of service connection for osteoarthritis of bilateral knees due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's reduction from 20 to 10 percent for his right knee disability was not proper, and the prior 20 percent rating must be restored.

The Veteran's right knee and cervical spine disabilities have been restored to their previous ratings of 60% and 20%, respectively, effective March 1, 2015. The appeal is granted for these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, but the claims for various conditions remain pending as new evidence was submitted. The Board finds that further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain was not rated higher than 20 percent prior to October 16, 2017 and higher than 40 percent thereafter.,The Veteran's left knee strain did not warrant a compensable rating prior to October 16, 2017. From October 16, 2017, he was granted ratings of 10 percent for instability and painful, limited motion.,Bilateral hearing loss has not warranted any compensation at any point during the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened, and the Board finds that further development is needed to determine if his claimed disabilities are related to active service or any other relevant factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, increased ratings for lumbar spondylosis and associated radiculopathy, an effective date earlier than September 14, 2010 for TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, and initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and pseudofolliculitis barbae were also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not incurred or aggravated by her active military service. The evidence did not show an increase in disability during service and the arthritis is considered to be a natural progression of aging.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence, including military hospital records and post-service Army medical records.

The Veteran's right knee disability and microscopic hematuria are granted service connection, while the hearing loss is denied a compensable rating and PTSD is denied any increase in rating.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis and post-operative residuals of arthroscopies and partial meniscectomies are rated at 20 percent since June 1, 2007. A separate noncompensable rating is assigned for the surgical scar.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including right wrist, left knee, back, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The Veteran is to be provided with VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of current disability. The claims for left hand strain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board finds the evidence insufficient to determine if there is additional functional loss due to flare-ups, necessitating a remand for further examination.