Knee Board decisions

Effective dates of August 15, 2020 are granted for service connection for various knee and back conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peroneal tendonitis of the right ankle with instability and left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to that condition are granted. The claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis is remanded due to lack of evidence linking it to service or a service-connected disability, while the claim for right lateral epicondylitis (right elbow) is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, and degenerative joint disease of the right hip are remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence to determine if these conditions were aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic left foot disability, chronic right foot disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizoaffective disorder), chronic lumbar spine disorder, chronic cervical spine disorder, chronic left shoulder disorder, chronic left knee disorder, chronic right knee disorder, chronic left ankle disorder, and chronic right ankle disorder. The claims are being remanded for further review.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for five issues, including service connection and increased ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee strain and tendonitis/tendinosis, as well as a functionally impairing low back disability. The decisions are based on direct service connection due to in-service injuries.

The Veteran's appeals for increased and reduced ratings related to various knee, hip, and shoulder conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral foot disabilities and a left knee disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran was not provided with VA examinations, and his lay statements about in-service injuries are considered.

The Veteran's service connection for left shoulder tendinitis is granted, and the initial disability ratings for cervical strain, left arm radiculopathy, and slight left knee instability are also granted. The Veteran's request for an increased rating for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome from March 29, 2020, is denied, but a separate initial disability rating of 10 percent for slight left knee instability is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of lower back pain, right knee meniscal tear, and allergic contact dermatitis, as these conditions were not awarded until January 27, 2015.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for degenerative arthritis, left knee was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for degenerative arthritis, right knee was denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no question of law or fact to resolve due to the effective date for service connection being granted on July 28, 2014.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as service connected, and the issues of right wrist, left wrist, and right knee disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his obstructive sleep apnea and right shoulder disability were not productive of chronic respiratory failure or cor pulmonale, nor did they require a tracheostomy. The effective date for the initial rating of 50 percent for obstructive sleep apnea is October 4, 2011.,The Veteran's right shoulder disability was denied in a final decision and reopened with new evidence filed on August 22, 2013. An initial 20 percent rating has been assigned since then.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disorder as there was no evidence showing he incurred such a condition during his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50% and his Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right knee, flexion, is restored to a 10% rating. The increased ratings for PTSD and extension of the right knee are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to procedural issues, lack of new evidence, and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are currently diagnosed but their etiology is unclear.

The Board has determined that the VA's decision on service connection for right and left knee disabilities is not adequate, and thus remanded to obtain further medical opinions.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating for their service-connected left knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to an inadequate examination report. The Board will obtain a new examination to assess the current severity of the condition and provide a more comprehensive evaluation.

The Board has determined that the VA examination in September 2020 is inadequate and requires additional development, including a remand for a new VA medical opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disorder. The right knee disorder claim is also being remanded due to its interdependence with the left knee claim.