Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee strain and arthritis are rated at a 20 percent effective from December 5, 2017. Prior to this date, the rating was 10 percent.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the issues of service connection for right knee disability, right leg condition, hearing loss, and tinnitus. As a result, these issues are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for seborrheic dermatitis and left knee disorder are remanded due to incomplete examination reports. The issues will be reconsidered after a new examination is conducted.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 2, 2011 for the assignment of a 10 percent evaluation for left medial meniscus knee injury. The earliest date on which an increase in disability was factually ascertainable is February 2, 2011.

The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, effective from the date of this decision.,The Veteran's right knee DJD and left knee DJD prior to February 21, 2017 are both rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's left knee DJD after April 1, 2018 is denied as there is no evidence of chronic residuals.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including rubella and its residuals, immunological effects, neurobehavioral effects, memory loss, dizziness, constant pain, lower and upper back disabilities, left knee disability, right knee disability, emphysema, shingles, ehrlichiosis (also claimed as fatigue and tick bite disease), left hand disability, right hand disability, blurred vision, and stomach ulcers.,The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a causal connection between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded several issues including earlier effective dates for service connection and initial compensable ratings for knee conditions, as well as a service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for tinea cruris, back disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral foot disability (plantar fasciitis), chronic rhinitis/sinusitis, and fibromyalgia. Service connection was granted for shortness of breath.

The Veteran's appeal regarding tinnitus, PTSD, and various wrist and hand strains has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,PTSD remains rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, bilateral knee, and chronic fatigue syndrome have been denied.,PTSD was not diagnosed or related to service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for a right knee disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are rated at the lowest possible level (10%) due to lack of limitation in motion or instability.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with the initial ratings for right and left knee joint osteoarthritis. The Veteran's conditions are currently rated at 10% each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current disabilities are due to his military service. The right knee disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his cervical spine and right knee conditions due to new evidence indicating worsening symptoms. The Veteran will need a VA examination to evaluate the severity of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, specifically related to his service and multiple jump landings.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his heart condition, bilateral knee condition, low back condition, right rotator cuff tear with repair and scars, and generalized anxiety disorder with memory loss due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 7, 2014 for a 10% evaluation for service-connected DJD and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee was denied. The Board found that the correct facts were before the adjudicator at the time of the February 2008 rating decision, but there was no clear and unmistakable error in failing to grant a 10% initial evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his combined rating of 70% did not meet the schedular criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis was denied.