Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left knee ACL strain and chondromalacia, as well as right knee arthritis, chondromalacia, and patellar tendonitis. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible statements about in-service injuries and persistent pain.

The Veteran's right knee disorder is granted service connection, while his left knee disorder and scar are denied. The Veteran receives a separate 10 percent rating for his left knee scar.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding no relationship between the current condition and active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea, cervical spine disability, low back/lumbar spine disability, right shoulder, knee, ankle, and/or foot disabilities, and psychiatric disorder have all been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service. The Veteran's assertions regarding his current diagnoses are not credible.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and left knee status post meniscectomy, resulting in their dismissal.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his service, and thus remands the case for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations are inadequate and requires a new examination to determine if the Veteran's lumbar spine disabilities, including L5-S1 lumbar disc bulge and lumbar strain, as well as his right knee disabilities, including patellar osteophyte and right knee strain, are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral hand disability (including CTS), and bilateral lower extremity disability (including neuropathy and radiculopathy) as the evidence did not show a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder, low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active service and/or due to injuries sustained or aggravated during periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) or Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee disability is being remanded due to the Veteran not showing up for a VA examination scheduled in December 2017. The case will be returned to the RO with instructions to obtain updated contact information and schedule another VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for a higher rating for orthostatic hypotension. The effective dates for service connection of Parkinson’s disease, tardive dyskinesia, and related conditions are remanded due to incomplete adjudication. Bilateral knee disabilities and schizophrenia are also remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically degenerative arthritis of the left and right knees, have been rated at 10 percent each since December 1, 2008. The Board has determined that these ratings are appropriate based on the current functional limitations.

The Veteran's hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus are granted service connection, while his left foot blisters and calluses as well as right foot below-the-knee amputation are denied.

The Board has remanded both the lumbar spine osteoarthritis and bilateral knees claims due to incomplete examination reports. The Veteran will need a new VA examination for these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a left knee disability, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the January 2008 rating decision.

The Veteran's left lower extremity radiculopathy and bilateral knee disability are now rated at 20 percent each, effective September 25, 2018. A TDIU is granted from July 9, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, porokeratosis and tinea (previously fungal infection of the feet with jungle rot and trench foot), right and left shoulder disability, and left knee disability is granted. The effective date will be determined based on the evidence received prior to April 12, 2013.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased disability rating and service connection are not properly adjudicated based on the current evidence, and thus remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for a back disorder and denied increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis, total left knee arthroplasty, and postoperative right total knee arthroplasty prior to December 6, 2016 and from January 17, 2018.

The Board has denied service connection for cervical spine, lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities as the evidence does not support a link between these conditions and in-service parachute jumps.