Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for instability of the left knee effective April 16, 2010. However, the Veteran's increased ratings claim remains on appeal as his left knee increased rating claim is remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Veteran's right and left knee instability were denied ratings in excess of 10 percent prior to October 29, 2021.,Ratings in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee instability from October 29, 2021, were granted at a rating of 20 percent each.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance and housebound status due to a lack of adequate medical opinions addressing the Veteran's service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for lumbar spine, right and/or left knee, right and/or left ankle, and right and/or left foot disabilities as arthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a link to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remands. The Veteran's left knee disability, including strain and pain, is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including chondromalacia patella and instability, is rated at 50 percent since December 16, 2022. A separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability has been granted throughout the appeal period.,Since February 7, 2021, a noncompensable rating for left shin splints was granted.

The Veteran's right knee disability is remanded for further examination and opinion to determine its etiology and whether it is related to his service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for allergic rhinitis due to contradictory findings in the VA examination report.,The October 2021 VA examiner stated that there was not enough evidence to render a diagnosis, but also marked that the Veteran suffers from rhinitis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine; left hip condition; right hip condition; left knee pain; right knee pain; and left shoulder condition due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and medical opinions provided in the July 2022 rating decision are inadequate due to a failure to consider the combat presumption, the Veteran's lay statements, and the RO's favorable findings regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee and foot disabilities. The case is being remanded for new VA examinations and medical opinions to address these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left knee and back conditions, finding that the VA opinions were inadequate and requiring further examination to determine the etiology and relationship to service-connected orthopedic conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed due to the grant of service-connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss, left knee condition, right knee condition, and low back condition. The appeals for migraine headaches and post-concussion syndrome are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee strain and degenerative arthritis of the spine are not service-connected, as there is no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right foot condition, as the earliest date entitlement arose was November 3, 2021. The knee claims are remanded for new VA medical opinions.

The Board has remanded all issues on appeal due to a duty to assist error prior to the May 2022 decision.,Service connection for back, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee conditions is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee degenerative joint disease with limitation of extension and flexion were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular pain, low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left hand tremors, right hand tremors, vision disability, and bilateral hearing loss have all been denied. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during or are otherwise related to the Veteran's active service.,The Board found no in-service event, injury, or disease to which the Veteran's claimed low back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, left hand tremors, right hand tremors, vision disabilities (diabetic retinopathy and cataracts), or bilateral hearing loss may be related. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are not considered service-connected.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, and cervical spine disabilities. The claims for left elbow disability and headaches are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her service-connected conditions did not prevent her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, right hand, and right knee disabilities were denied in an April 2022 rating decision. New evidence was submitted including medical records from June 2022, which led to readjudication of the claims.,Service connection is granted for all four conditions: left shoulder disability, right hand disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.