Knee decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, or right knee condition.,For his left hip conditions, he was granted a 10 percent rating for limitation of extension and no other ratings were granted. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for his generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic pain syndrome and increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current diagnosis of chronic pain syndrome related to service or any service-connected disability at any time during the pendency of the claim.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction of his evaluation for a painful, unstable, and non-healing left forehead scar from 20% to 10% was dismissed as he requested withdrawal of this issue during the hearing. The appeals for restoration of ratings for his lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities were granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records, specifically those from UC Davis Medical Group and Dr. Boyd, which are necessary to determine the history of the Veteran's right knee condition.

The Veteran's effective date for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) at the housebound level is granted as of May 10, 2007. The decision was based on his service-connected disabilities totaling 60 percent disabling.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for neck, back, hip, knee, and acquired psychiatric disorders due to incomplete records. The Veteran's STRs do not reflect injuries sustained in November 1996 during a rappelling exercise.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, right shoulder, right knee, and left knee disorders are granted service connection.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's cervical spine strain. However, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the reduction in rating for right knee instability and his claim for service connection for left knee instability has been dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to duty-to-assist errors in providing VA medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, including arthritis, based on continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran is granted a clothing allowance for the right knee brace used due to his service-connected right knee disability, as the Board found reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran's claim that the brace causes wear and tear on his clothes.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a right knee disability was denied as there is no legal basis to assign any earlier effective date.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain an adequate medical opinion and provide a VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a back disability and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence does not establish a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disorder and low back disorder, finding that these conditions are related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain. The other issues have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for multiple conditions, including left shoulder disability, right wrist disability, right broken arm, left knee condition, right knee condition, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left ankle and / or left leg condition.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee disability and service connection for heart disorder was denied. The decision upheld the existing rating of 10 percent for left knee lateral instability, effective April 12, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew all issues associated with the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has found a duty to assist error due to the Veteran's cancellation of VA examinations and remands the cases for further development, including scheduling new VA examinations.