Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by instability and limited extension due to a meniscal tear, has been rated at 20 percent for instability and 30 percent for limitation of extension. The Board found that the current ratings are appropriate based on the evidence provided.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating for various conditions, including obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, abdominal aortic aneurysm, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, thoracolumbar spine degenerative joint disease, left knee arthritis with left leg shin splints, and right knee arthritis with right leg shin splints. The Veteran will be provided additional VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee condition, right knee condition, headaches, and intervertebral disc syndrome due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence being added and not reviewed by the AOJ, and the Veteran's request for initial review of this evidence. The claim will be readjudicated.

The Veteran's right knee gout was granted a disability rating of 60 percent effective January 11, 2018. His hypertension and hepatitis B were both granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the left knee is related to an in-service injury and has been granted service connection.

Service connection is granted for mild degenerative changes of the thoracic spine and left knee patellofemoral syndrome.,Service connection is denied for laboratory results during service, to include homocysteine 9.8 range, high cholesterol, Tbil at 1.5, RBC low, low lymphocytes, high glucose, high globulin, low HGB, low HCT, leukocytoses and impaired fasting glucose, high PT, high WBC, low MPV, low VLDL, high nitrate positive, high INR, high IgE, low INR, hyperlipidemia, and high potassium.,An initial evaluation of 100 percent is granted for service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and denied the Veteran's request for an increased rating for his major depressive disorder. The Veteran's right knee condition was not found to be related to service, and his major depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent disabling.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of the claims.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain, anterior cruciate ligament repair of the left knee, and partial iliectomy of the terminal ileum with irritable colon syndrome are all rated as they should be based on their respective conditions. The initial rating for chronic left shoulder strain is denied, while a higher rating is granted for residuals of talus and ligamentous repair of the right ankle.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral hearing loss were denied. The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis was also denied as not warranting an initial compensable evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle, low back, and bilateral knee disabilities due to lack of qualifying active duty service during the claimed periods.

The Veteran's initial claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was granted in October 2012, and he is now seeking an increased rating.,For his right knee patellofemoral syndrome (post-arthroscopic repair of meniscus tear), cervical spine degenerative spondylosis with disc protrusion, residual scar, right knee, radiculopathy in the left upper extremity, and radiculopathy in the right upper extremity, he is seeking increased ratings.

The Veteran's low back disability is now rated at 40 percent effective March 3, 2010. Other claims for increased ratings and service connection are also granted.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is remanded for additional medical examination and to obtain updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left hip, right knee, and right leg conditions as well as his claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee disability, higher ratings for lichen planus and right shoulder disability, and left knee disability due to incomplete records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are rated at 10 percent each, effective from the date of the decision. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical evidence for a new examination.,A retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran’s service-connected knees prior to September 11, 2013 has been requested.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis and left ankle sprain, finding no evidence of a link to military service.,Service connection was not granted due to lack of medical nexus linking the current conditions to active duty.