Knee decisions — 2022

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

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination to address concerns raised in a Joint Motion, including ensuring substantial compliance with prior remand directives and addressing inconsistencies in the VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome of both the right and left knees, finding that these conditions began to manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee condition and his service-connected disabilities, including obesity.

The Veteran's service-connected ALL treatment is found to be the cause of his chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), skin conditions with dermoid cysts, insomnia, degenerative arthritis, mechanical back pain, facet joint arthropathy, spondylosis, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right ankle disability.,The Veteran's service-connected ALL treatment is found to be the cause of his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's left knee status post total knee replacement is rated at 30 percent since October 1, 2016. The Board denied a higher rating as the disability does not more nearly approximate severe painful motion or weakness in the left knee.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is granted service connection as it began during service and continues to the present.,Service connection for an eye disability (refractive error) is denied as there are no current diagnoses of other eye disabilities.

The Board has remanded several issues, including service connection for a stomach disability, a headache disability, and an increased rating for PTSD. The Veteran's right shoulder, left knee, and lumbar spine disabilities are still under review.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right knee disabilities (flexion and instability). The decision is based on the need for additional evidence and a reassessment of the medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a right foot fracture and remanded the issues regarding initial disability ratings for right knee arthritis and left knee chondromalacia.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, with separate ratings of 10 percent for left knee instability. The appeal is denied as the criteria for higher ratings have not been met.

The Board denied clothing allowance claims for lidocaine ointment and left knee braces, but granted one for a right knee brace due to service-connected conditions. The Veteran's right knee brace was used to treat his service-connected chondromalacia patella.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of itchy eyes was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. Service connection for chronic sinusitis and allergic rhinitis is granted due to in-service exposure within the presumptive period.,Issues related to low back disorder, right knee disorder, prostate disorder (BHP), obstructive sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux disease are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete medical records, particularly those from his time in the U.S. Army Ready Reserve and VA treatment records prior to December 2009.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, as this issue was fully granted in an October 2021 rating decision. The remaining issues have been remanded.

Your appeal for increased ratings on right knee disability, left knee disability and headaches has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to delays in processing and incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to February 10, 2014 for service connection for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date was February 10, 2014.,The Veteran's claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits was also denied as it should correspond to the effective dates for service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and a lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not in need of regular aid and assistance nor permanently confined to his home.