Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations conducted prior to the decision on appeal.

The Veteran's left knee disorder and tinnitus have been granted service connection. The left knee disorder is linked to in-service injury, while the tinnitus is related to noise exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right knee injury was aggravated by service, and therefore grants service connection for a right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his left knee disorder and instability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for the left knee disorder, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is REMANDED for further action on several issues, including entitlement to increased ratings for his knee disabilities.,The RO reduced the disability ratings for right and left knee lateral instability from 20 percent to noncompensable (0) percent, effective July 1, 2020. The Veteran's appeal seeks reinstatement of these ratings.

The Veteran's service connection claims for thoracolumbar spine, right and left knee, and right and left ankle disabilities are being remanded due to errors in duty to assist.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and a need for additional examinations. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various eye, back, knee, hand, and foot conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraines, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, and right knee scars were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.,Specifically, the VA examination reports showed that the Veteran's migraines did not result in very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, his obstructive sleep apnea did not require use of a CPAP machine, his GERD did not meet the criteria for 30 percent or higher ratings under either DC 7203 or DC 7206, and his right knee scars were not deep or nonlinear enough to warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for his service-connected left knee patellar instability with arthritis (limitation of flexion) is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities as there is no current evidence of a diagnosed disability or functional impairment.

The Veteran's right knee strain and tendonitis disability are granted as service-connected, with the Board finding that there is an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence regarding whether his condition was incurred during active duty training.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as neck and back disabilities due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors regarding VA treatment records and private medical records.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for gout in his bilateral feet and knees have been denied. A TDIU has been granted.

Your appeal for service connection regarding left knee condition, right knee condition, and back condition has been dismissed as the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The appeal for entitlement to a compensable rating for left knee limitation of flexion, separate compensable rating for knee limitation of extension prior to October 29, 2020, and rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee limitation of extension from October 29, 2020 to November 24, 2021 and in excess of 40 percent thereafter were dismissed. The appeal was also denied for a separate 10 percent rating for left knee instability from April 30, 2014 to July 27, 2020, a 20 percent rating for left knee instability from July 27, 2020 to October 29, 2020, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for left knee instability for the period beginning on October 29, 2020.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to insufficient rationale in previous VA opinions and new evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating for left knee disability and TDIU rating due to inadequate medical opinions regarding flare-ups of the Veteran's left knee. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has granted an initial 20 percent rating for the Veteran's left knee medial meniscal tear with residual post-traumatic arthritis, but denied any higher ratings. The decision is based on the evidence showing some limitation of motion and pain during flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye condition and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, while remanding multiple other claims related to various disabilities.