Knee Board decisions

Service connection for a right knee disability is granted.,Service connection for a left knee disability is granted.,Service connection for allergic rhinitis (claimed as chronic allergies) is granted under the PACT Act.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether this disability had its onset in service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was effectively received on December 8, 2017. The effective date of the award is set at this date.,Prior to December 8, 2017, the Veteran did not meet the criteria for DEA benefits due to a lack of permanent and total disability status.,The Veteran's claim for SMC at the housebound rate was denied as he did not have a single service-connected disability rated 100% disabling prior to December 8, 2017.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, including meniscal tear and arthritis. The AOJ is required to obtain an additional medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service events or exposures related to his conditions, and thus could not establish a nexus between his current disabilities and service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of left and right knee pain have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeal.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's current right knee disability, osteoarthritis, is not etiologically linked to his active duty military service. The claim will be remanded for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's left knee meniscal residuals and strain are rated at 20 percent effective April 18, 2018. The Veteran is also entitled to a separate 20 percent rating for the left knee meniscal residuals.

The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as degenerative arthritis and transverse process fusion L5-S1 with degenerative large herniated disk at L5-S1, was aggravated by the service-connected right hallux valgus postoperative.,The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis and transverse process fusion L5-S1 with degenerative large herniated disk at L5-S1.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disorder, to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee disorder, should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and missing in-service records.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for her service-connected right knee shin splints to include stress fracture of the tibia (right shin disability) is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in failing to obtain an adequate examination.

The Board has denied compensable ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities, finding that there is no evidence of ankylosis, meniscal disorders, impairment of the tibia or fibula, patellar instability, shin splints, or hyperextension to support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes. The VA examiner found full range of motion in both knees.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for muscle pain, finding that there is no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between his in-service complaints of muscle-related symptoms and any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for sleep disturbances, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, back injury, left knee condition, and right knee condition are all granted. However, the rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal of the initial ratings for unspecified anxiety disorder and bilateral hearing loss is denied. The Board finds that the most persuasive evidence does not support a higher rating than 30 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder or noncompensable for bilateral hearing loss.,The Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for migraines, right shoulder disability, left foot disability (pes planus), right foot disability (pes planus), and right knee disability are remanded. The appeal of service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been submitted to readjudicate the claims for service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, lumbar spine condition, right elbow condition, and right shoulder condition. The appeal is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Right Knee Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, with a rating of 50% effective December 4, 2019.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection claims for PTSD, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The Board has dismissed the appeal due to withdrawal.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for left shoulder rotator cuff tendinitis and right knee strain due to a lack of verification of the Veteran's reserve component service dates.