Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were previously decided in a September 2021 rating decision, appealed to the Board in November 2021, and adjudicated by the Board in an October 29, 2024, decision. The appeal of these issues is dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability (degenerative arthritis of the spine), right knee condition, right foot plantar fasciitis, left foot plantar fasciitis, and left shoulder disability are denied.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated under the criteria for limitation of flexion due to arthritis. The evidence does not warrant ratings higher than 10 percent, as the range of motion is most severely limited at 0 degrees of extension and 100 degrees of flexion with pain on examination.

The Board has found that the AOJ failed to provide proper notice of a pre-decisional hearing, and thus remanded for the AOJ to fulfill this requirement.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to September 25, 2020, for service connection of his left knee disability with a scar status-post meniscectomy is denied. The claim for a higher rating for the left knee disability is granted with a 20% rating effective from September 25, 2020.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including right ear hearing loss, bilateral elbow, hand, knee, and shoulder disabilities, hemorrhoids, neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and thoracic aortic aneurysm. The appeals are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a back condition and right knee condition due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current conditions.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted with a rating of 10%.,Effective February 28, 2013, the Veteran's left knee and right knee disabilities are each granted with a rating of 10%. The effective date for erectile dysfunction is also set at this time.,The Veteran's spinal stenosis with degenerative arthritis secondary to right hip bursitis with limitation of adduction is granted. An initial 70% rating was assigned for the service-connected psychiatric disorder (PTSD).,SMC(k) and SMC(s)(1) are also granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal of a proposed rating reduction from 40 percent to noncompensable for service-connected left knee status post collateral ligament sprain, limitation of extension because it was not an adjudication and did not identify any disagreement with an existing determination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left knee disability, which was secondary to his right knee osteoarthritis, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis with total knee replacements, finding that the Veteran's symptoms started during service and have continued since.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right shoulder, left shoulder, right upper extremity neurologic disorder other than right middle finger surgical neuropathy, left knee, and sleep apnea disorders have all been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year post-service.,Service connection was granted for a right middle finger surgical neuropathy disability.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for patellofemoral syndrome, left knee was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request through his attorney.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical evidence in the record.

The Veteran's increased ratings for his service-connected right shoulder and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. The AOJ must obtain such an opinion and address the issues of causation and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the claims of an increased rating for a right knee disability, service connection for a back disability, service connection for a neck disability, and service connection for diabetes mellitus due to pre-existing duty to assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for a right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient evidence.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to her claimed hip, shoulder, knee, and ankle disabilities. She reported symptoms after service but no medical evaluations were provided.

The appeal of the right knee condition is dismissed, and the neck condition remains at a 30 percent evaluation.