Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal of his disability rating for left knee joint osteoarthritis was dismissed due to procedural defects, including filing an incorrect form and not timely filing a Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has found that the VA examinations and medical opinions are inadequate, and thus remanding all claims for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple issues are being remanded due to the need for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's appeal of entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition was dismissed because the appeal was filed more than one year after the AOJ rating decision, and no evidence of good cause was submitted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and the correction of a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his psychiatric condition and multiple musculoskeletal issues, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted the claim for TDIU based on this finding.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee instability ratings were reduced from 10 percent to noncompensable, effective November 1, 2024. The Board has restored the 10 percent ratings for both knees.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, cervical spine disorder, headaches, and multiple musculoskeletal disorders have been denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for both the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, finding that they are related to his active military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased disability ratings in excess of 60 percent, 10 percent, and 20 percent for left knee status post total knee replacement, right knee status post meniscectomy with arthritis, and right knee arthritis with limited extension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been withdrawn, and the Board has dismissed these issues due to withdrawal. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for hearing loss for VA purposes.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a higher rating for right knee instability was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain and denied service connection for hypertension, OSA, cervical spine arthritis, left shoulder arthritis, and lumbar spine arthritis. The Veteran's right knee strain is found to be related to his in-service symptoms and post-service treatment. However, the Board determined that there was no nexus between the current diagnosis of hypertension and the elevated blood pressure readings during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee degenerative arthritis pre-existed service and was aggravated by service, thus granting service connection for both knees.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 30 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,Tinnitus is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied.,Left knee GSW scars are not compensable as they do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Right elbow GSW with traumatic arthritis and ulnar neuropathy warrants remand due to insufficient evidence on its current rating of 30 percent.,Right ear hearing loss is currently rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability, status post total arthroplasty, is denied a rating in excess of 30 percent.,The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine and IVDS is denied a rating in excess of 20 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected right lower extremity radiculopathy from March 6, 2019, is granted a disability rating of 20 percent.,The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy has not been rated higher than 20 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than June 22, 2021 for the grant of a higher disability rating for left knee status post meniscal tear and anterior cruciate ligament tear. The evidence did not show that prior to this date, the Veteran's left knee flexion was limited to 15 degrees or less.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions including fibromyalgia, generalized anxiety disorder (also claiming other specific depressive disorder), muscle joint pain of the right knee, gastric ulcers, chronic fatigue syndrome, tension headaches, respiratory insufficiency, restless leg syndrome, bilateral hearing loss, and right hip strain. The decision is based on reasonable doubt being resolved in favor of the Veteran.