Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, while claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), migraines, a disability manifested by rashes, kidney disability, hypertension, left knee disability, and right knee disability were denied.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the initial ratings of various conditions and denied increased ratings, except for a 30 percent rating for Crohn's disease starting January 13, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for hair loss, allergies and/or sinus disability, bilateral hearing loss, a low back disability, and a left knee disability as there was no evidence of current disabilities or in-service incurrence.

The Board denied an increased rating for a neck disability and right knee strain, and remanded the claims for service connection for a right shoulder disability, sinusitis, and a mental condition due to insufficient evidence regarding active-duty training dates in 2006.

The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a 30 percent rating for posttraumatic headaches as residuals of traumatic brain injury, while remanding several other claims for further development.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss and insomnia, granted service connection for tinnitus, and remanded claims for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and migraines due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis with sprain but denied service connection for right knee arthritis with strain.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for higher ratings of his service-connected hypertensive heart disease and knee degenerative joint diseases.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD and a rating of 50 percent, but no higher, for migraine headaches prior to April 13, 2021, while denying increased ratings for other conditions.

The Board remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disorder (instability) prior to December 4, 2016; a 20 percent rating for a right knee disorder (meniscus) prior to December 5, 2016; and entitlement to TDIU prior to May 18, 2015, due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board granted service connection for cervical strain, cervicogenic headaches, right wrist sprain, left elbow disability, right knee degenerative arthritis and right knee strain, and left knee strain. However, it denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type I, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, and remanded claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, right forearm carpal tunnel syndrome, left forearm CTS, a right elbow disability, and a left wrist disability.

The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, hip, and lower back pain disabilities due to a duty to assist error.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, and carcinoid tumor/well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor of the appendix as there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board granted service connection for a neck disability and a right knee disability, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor based on evidence of current disabilities, in-service injuries, and credible testimony regarding continuity of symptomatology.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for instability of the left knee, as there was no evidence of diagnosed instability or slight subluxation/lateral instability.

The Veteran's right knee DJD, status-post TKR, resulted in chronic residuals consisting of severe painful motion during the periods from May 1, 2010, to December 14, 2014, and March 7, 2017, to April 23, 2025.

The Board denied higher initial ratings for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities based on limitation of motion and granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected psychiatric disorder with TBI effective October 5, 2010.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and earnings information.