Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's knee disabilities. The Veteran is requested to provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has granted the Veteran's increased ratings for chondromalacia patella, residuals, right knee injury with arthritis and right knee instability.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by full extension with limited flexion to no less than 93 degrees and functional impairment due to painful motion, does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issues of service connection for left knee chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease, as well as higher initial ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy. The Board dismissed these appeals.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and left knee condition, including a lack of service treatment records. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, with secondary service connection also being considered.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent disabling for posttraumatic degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the left knee is remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination and missing medical records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for knee conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's disability rating for traumatic arthritis of the left knee was reduced from 30% to 10%, effective October 18, 2012. The reduction is void ab initio due to lack of proper notice and process. The 30% rating is restored.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, finding that the Veteran's knee disabilities caused or aggravated his back issues. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay statements and medical opinions linking his current back problems to his knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been granted, with a separate compensable rating assigned for residuals of left knee meniscectomy and multiple right knee meniscectomies. The Veteran's left knee DJD is rated at 10 percent since March 23, 2017.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, and increased ratings for seborrheic dermatitis of the face, neck, and scalp, and superficial acne of the chest, upper back, and shoulder. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection based on his in-service knee injury, and denied both skin disability claims as well.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for sleep apnea and hypertension, as well as increased ratings for other conditions. Additional development is needed to obtain complete STRs and SPRs, conduct a VA examination, and provide the Veteran with an SOC.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, a chipped tooth, thyroid disorder, right knee disorder, left wrist ganglion cyst, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, and TMJ. The appeals are now pending before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal involves the propriety of the disability ratings for his right knee laxity and degenerative joint disease. The case is being remanded to obtain additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination for his right knee disability and an adequate medical opinion regarding his bilateral hearing loss. The issues of increased ratings for tinnitus and service connection for bilateral hearing loss are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee condition prior to September 26, 2017 was granted. He is now rated at 60 percent from June 1, 2017 to September 25, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, and therefore, the claims are denied.