Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee and right knee conditions due to the appellant's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The claim for a higher rating for posttraumatic dyslexia from January 14, 2013 to November 29, 2016 has been granted with a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 50 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied. The Board found that the disability has been rated at its maximum and no higher ratings are warranted. For his TDIU claim, the Veteran was granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disability was dismissed because the claim had already been granted in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's left knee strain is rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating due to limited flexion.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine condition is rated at 20 percent, and there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including tendonitis with derangement of unspecified meniscus, is related to an in-service injury and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder, back, and left knee disabilities based on the evidence showing these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examination and opinion. The claims will be reconsidered with new evidence and opinions considering all relevant service treatment records.

The Veteran's foot ulcers and kidney disability are not related to his active service, as there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after separation from service. The back disability was productive of forward flexion greater than 30 degrees but not greater than 60 degrees.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a connection between the Veteran's kidney disability and his active service.

The Board has granted a temporary total disability rating from August 1, 2019 to September 28, 2019 for convalescence following the left knee surgery performed in June 2019.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service, was not aggravated during active service if preexisting, or is related to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities resulting in loss of use of both lower extremities. The appeal seeking a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's athlete's foot and pityriasis versicolor were granted service connection. Service connection for chloracne, bilateral hearing loss, right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, right shoulder disability, heart disability, mycosis fungoides, and scars are denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board found that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and her military service.

The Veteran's SMC housebound rate is granted, and separate ratings of 30 percent for right and left knee instability are also granted. However, increased ratings for the Veteran's knee disabilities (left knee limitation of flexion, left knee limitation of extension, and right knee limitation of flexion) are denied.

The Veteran's right and left knee strains are granted as service connection. The Veteran's musculoskeletal bilateral foot disability, aggravated during service, is also granted.,Service connection for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities, and a skin disability of the feet, remains pending due to remand.

The Board has dismissed the claims for increased ratings and SMC due to the Veteran's death, as appellants' claims do not survive their deaths.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's neck condition. The effective date for service connection of left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with arthritis as secondary to right knee osteoarthritis is January 20, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy, incontinence, and OSA is dismissed. Service connection for a back disability is granted with a 20% rating from August 23, 2019 to February 18, 2020.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he has a 100% schedular rating for ischemic heart disease and SMC benefits based on statutory housebound status due to other service-connected disabilities, rendering the TDIU claim moot.