Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims regarding hypertension, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis due to incomplete records and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical records and undergo a new VA examination for his knee disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran's left hip tendonitis is currently rated at 10 percent under DC 5253.

The appeals for increased evaluations and service connection have been dismissed as the claims were pending under the legacy appeal system at the time of the April 2021 VA Form 10182, which is not within the AMA's jurisdiction.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain disability and right knee strain disability, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are related to her in-service injuries.,Service connection was also granted for lumbosacral strain disability, with a negative nexus opinion provided by VA examiners.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed for the issue of an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee joint traumatic osteoarthritis. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for right knee instability.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty, effective June 1, 2017, based on chronic residuals of severe painful motion or weakness.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities was granted with effective dates of September 2, 2021. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a low back disorder due to inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting TDIU.

The Veteran's knee and back braces caused increased wear or tear to his outer clothing in 2019, leading to the grant of an annual clothing allowance.

The Veteran's service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to his service-connected disabilities of degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with spinal fusion and bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, is denied because the evidence does not support a finding that obesity (an intermediate step) was caused or aggravated by these service-connected conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for a low back disability, right knee disability, and an increased rating for left knee degenerative arthritis before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for back pain as secondary to bilateral knee patellar femoral syndrome disabilities due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran's claims file should be forwarded to a qualified VA examiner to provide a nexus opinion on his lower back pain.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right total knee replacements are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for recurrent left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that it was initially manifested during active service.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for migraine headaches is granted, while a higher rating for left knee tendonitis is denied. Service connection claims for cervical spine and left ankle disabilities are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for treatment purposes only for a lumbar spine disability. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, and PTSD is remanded due to incomplete service personnel records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, back disability, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), and right ear drum disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee disability due to secondary service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and neck disability, effective February 6, 1996, based on clear and unmistakable error in previous rating decisions.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds no higher rating is warranted. Service connection for a right knee disability and neck disability is denied due to lack of current diagnosis or evidence of in-service injury. The low back disability claim is remanded for an addendum opinion.