Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, including degenerative arthritis, as well as a low back disability. The evidence is in relative equipoise that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right ankle disabilities, bilateral knee strains, and lumbar strain have been granted. However, the Veteran's right ear hearing loss has not met the criteria for a compensable disability rating.,The Board found that there is no evidence of current right ear hearing loss meeting VA criteria for disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and right knee strain due to a duty to assist error. Additional development is needed, including obtaining a supplemental VA opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to procedural errors in the prior decision.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress and mild neurocognitive disorder, migraines, bilateral hearing loss, degenerative arthritis and lumbosacral strain (sciatica), right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right hip degenerative arthritis, and left hip degenerative arthritis have been denied. The decision does not address service connection for specific conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, gout, or diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus, but denied service connection for a right hip condition and hypertension.

The Board has remanded the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability prior to October 1, 2018 and TDIU prior to August 28, 2017 due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability must be evaluated based on retrospective opinion(s).

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to an increased rating for right knee degenerative joint disease and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical examinations and incomplete evidence.

The Board denied a higher disability rating for the Veteran's meniscal tear of the right knee prior to December 30, 2020 and denied a compensable rating for his scar residuals. The claim for service connection for urothelial carcinoma of the bladder was dismissed as it has been fully granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and higher initial ratings for a psychiatric disability due to non-compliance with prior remand instructions. The Veteran is required to provide VA treatment records, private treatment records, and work history information. A new examination is needed for his bilateral knee conditions and right elbow condition.

The Board partially vacated the decision, granting a 60 percent rating for left knee degenerative joint disease from August 1, 2010 to August 22, 2024 and denying ratings in excess of 60 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities have been denied as his conditions do not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a left knee disorder, right knee disorder, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and sleep apnea to obtain further evidence and opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to missing medical records and requests for authorization of private treatment records.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for left and right knee subpatellar chondromalacia with degenerative joint disease are granted at a 10 percent rating, effective from February 1, 1993 to November 20, 2008. The Board finds no basis for higher ratings or service connection on appeal.

Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of prostate cancer, and a right knee disorder is granted.,The Veteran's claims are supported by evidence showing in-service noise exposure and service treatment records documenting injuries to the knees.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional development of the record, including a retrospective opinion regarding the severity of the service-connected right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and instability prior to May 2, 2022.

The Board has restored the prior ratings for the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, left knee instability, and right knee instability as these rating reductions were found to be improper.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee condition, right knee condition, and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives. The Veteran's symptoms of knee pain and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome are being evaluated again by VA examiners.

The Veteran's arthritis, bilateral knees and carpal tunnel were not found to be related to service. The Board determined that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or connection.,The Veteran's emphysema was attributed to her smoking habit rather than exposure during service.