Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 5, 2022, for the grant of service connection for left knee disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The Board will obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of tinnitus, thoracic strain, diabetes, and right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for right knee disability and right foot calcaneal spurs due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for SMC based on housebound status and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits. The Board has determined that the earliest possible effective dates are February 18, 2014 for SMC and February 19, 2014 for DEA.,The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which was granted a permanent and total rating from February 18, 2014. This resulted in the assignment of earlier effective dates for both SMC and DEA benefits.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection of vertigo due to its full grant in a prior decision. Service connection is granted for low back disability, and the claims for left knee, left wrist, and left foot calcaneal spurs are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for limited flexion and extension of the left knee are remanded due to incomplete or insufficient evidence.,Additional medical examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of left and right total knee replacements, as well as an initial rating for right femoral neuropathy, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.,Specifically, the Board determined that the Veteran’s disabilities did not meet or approximate the criteria for a 40 percent rating under DC 5055 due to lack of severe painful motion or weakness in his knees.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated noncompensable prior to June 7, 2021, and 30 percent thereafter. The Board denied a higher rating for the period on appeal prior to June 7, 2021.,For the period from June 7, 2021, the Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent for lateral instability of the left knee and denied a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error regarding functional limitations.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee instability are rated at 10 percent each, while the service-connected shortness of breath is not yet assigned a rating.,The RO has remanded the issues of increased ratings for the service-connected right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including OSA, dry skin, hypertension, neck disability, right and left upper extremity nerve damage, right long finger disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, erectile dysfunction, right knee disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right foot plantar fasciitis, and left foot plantar fasciitis. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or treatment for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to errors in the previous decisions and remands. The Veteran's representative indicated that his bilateral knee conditions are also secondary to his claimed back disabilities, and he noted current symptoms of each disability at his September 2023 Board hearing.

The Veteran's right ankle condition, left ankle condition, bilateral pes planus, and right knee condition are all granted service connection.,Service connection is also granted for the Veteran's left lower extremity shin splints and right lower extremity shin splints.,However, service connection for a bilateral claw foot disability is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to deficiencies in the record existing prior to the appealed decision. The Veteran's respiratory condition, bilateral knee conditions, and right shoulder condition are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's claims for additional months of service-connected compensation for various conditions have been denied. The effective dates and payment start dates are legally correct.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left and right knee disorders due to inadequate examination findings. The Veteran is required to provide medical records, undergo a VA examination, and have their conditions evaluated.

Effective dates of May 22, 1996 are granted for service connection of left knee limitation of flexion and impairment.,Effective dates of April 14, 1998 are granted for service connection of left hip disability and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to reconsider the claim of service connection for a right knee disability. The Veteran's adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted as secondary to herpes viral infection.