Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, thoracolumbar degenerative disc disease, left knee strain with joint osteoarthritis, and right knee strain with joint osteoarthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected pes planus and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee meniscal tear, lumbosacral spine degenerative joint and disc disease (lumbar spine disability), and cervical spine degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for a left ear hearing loss disability and denied service connection for a left knee disability. The right ear hearing loss disability is still being considered, with the RO to adjudicate an initial compensable rating.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, warranting readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee condition. The case is now remanded to obtain an adequate opinion from a clinician regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current right knee condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for service connection of his left knee conditions, finding that the earliest date of claim was July 17, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating in excess of 10 percent for osteoarthritis of the left knee has been dismissed. The Veteran also requested an increase in his rating for migraine headaches, but this issue is not part of the current appeal as it was addressed under the legacy system and did not involve new evidence or claims.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are not rated higher than noncompensable due to infrequent attacks and lack of prostrating episodes.,A 10 percent rating for left leg instability is granted, with the condition being attributed to fibular fracture.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis in the left knee does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been granted increased ratings, but the claims for increased initial ratings are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in obtaining an addendum opinion and potential toxic exposure records. The Veteran's sleep apnea is being considered secondary to his service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder, but further clarification on obesity as a factor is needed.

The Veteran's right knee condition is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded his claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete reviews of his medical records and failure to verify stressor events. The Veteran will need to provide additional evidence or undergo further examinations.

The Veteran's claims for fibromyalgia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic headaches (migraines) have been granted with effective dates of June 30, 2020. The Veteran's claims for left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, left knee condition, and right knee condition are being remanded due to procedural issues.,The Veteran's claim for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was denied with an effective date of November 8, 2019. The Veteran's supplemental claim seeking an earlier effective date is dismissed as it was not filed within one year of the initial decision.,The Veteran's claims for chronic headaches (migraines), left ankle sprain, right ankle sprain, left knee condition, and right knee condition are being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee arthritis prior to November 19, 2021 is being remanded due to the need for a retrospective medical examination.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee meniscus tear with osteoarthritis and right knee meniscus tear with osteoarthritis, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral flat foot (pes planus).

Service connection for tinnitus and vertigo has been granted, while service connection for TBI, sleep apnea, low back pain arthritis, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity (claimed as neuropathy), radiculopathy of the left lower extremity (claimed as neuropathy), right knee pain arthritis, left knee pain arthritis, right shin splints, left shin splints, right elbow and arm pain arthritis, left elbow and arm pain arthritis, right wrist pain arthritis, left wrist pain arthritis, right shoulder pain arthritis, left shoulder pain arthritis, right hip pain arthritis, left hip pain arthritis, right foot pain arthritis, and left foot pain arthritis have been denied.,Service connection for a left index finger arthralgia has been granted with an effective date of November 12, 2008. Service connection for lateral collateral ligament sprain and degenerative arthritis of the right ankle has been granted with an effective date of July 12, 2021.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating higher than 10 percent for left knee limited flexion is denied. A separate initial 10 percent rating for left knee instability from March 19, 2021 and continuing thereafter is granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee conditions has been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia patellae/patellofemoral syndrome or a compensable rating for limitation of extension associated with this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain and instability have been denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's right and left ankle disabilities have been rated as 10 percent disabling, with no higher ratings granted. The Veteran's left wrist disability is also rated at 10 percent.,Both knees are currently rated at 10 percent.