Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ankle tendonitis, left ankle strain, and left knee strain with effective dates of October 15, 2018. The initial ratings assigned are 10% for each condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as secondary to his service-connected hearing loss. The initial compensable disability ratings for right ear hearing loss, PFB, and tinea pedis are denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, as well as for migraine headaches, require additional development due to inconsistencies in the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee scar was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7802 or a rating in excess of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 7804.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and knee conditions, as well as gastrointestinal issues (including GERD), due to additional pressure caused by compensation for her service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and right foot injury. The VA is requested to obtain relevant medical records and conduct new examinations to address these claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error, and will consider each issue individually.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding service connection for a left knee disability and its relationship to service-connected right knee strain.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for his headache condition and a higher rating for his left knee condition have been denied.,The Board found that the original ratings were properly assigned, as there was no evidence of prostrating attacks or other criteria warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of GERD and service connection for right knee, right hip, and left hip strains has been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board found the VA examination inadequate in assessing whether these conditions are related to his service-connected left knee strain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, vertigo, low back disability, left ankle and right ankle disabilities, left arm and right arm disabilities, left elbow and right elbow disabilities, left foot and right foot disabilities, left hand little finger, right hand little finger, left hand index finger, right hand index finger, left hand long finger, right hand long finger, left hand ring finger, right hand ring finger, left hand thumb, right hand thumb, left knee, right knee, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy have been remanded due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left upper extremity cold exposure, right upper extremity cold exposure, left wrist disability, and right wrist disability have also been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee disability was dismissed due to the appellant's request to withdraw the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, ankle and knee disabilities, low back disability, anxiety/depression, insomnia, sleep apnea, and headaches, did not begin during or are otherwise related to service. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee meniscus tear disability is related to a work injury and not service or any service-connected condition. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings of his knee and foot disabilities have been dismissed due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been denied a compensable rating. The claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities are remanded due to the need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability is related to his active-duty service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for left knee pain, right knee pain, sleep apnea, foot pain, lack of sleep, and back pain are remanded due to the Veteran's inability to attend scheduled VA examinations during the week.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an equilibrium (dizziness) disability and a right knee disability are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The VA will need to provide additional examinations and medical opinions to address the etiology of these disabilities, particularly in relation to presumed Gulf War exposure.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a semilunar cartilage condition of the left knee was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder, as he does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating or a disability rating of 70 percent. For the left knee, the Veteran is granted a compensable disability rating (10%) effective January 13, 2021, for limitation of motion.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and his service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to cause death.,The Appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, preventing her from receiving survivor's pension.