Knee decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically her right knee conditions, rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 2015. The Board granted the TDIU on a schedular basis.

The Board denied service connection for lung disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right hand disability, back disability, eye disability, and prostate cancer. The evidence did not show a current disability or link to service.

The appellant's appeals for increased disability ratings for left knee conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's right knee instability rating was reduced from 20 percent to noncompensable. The Board has restored the 20 percent rating effective August 15, 2018.

The Veteran seeks initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for his lower back strain, right knee disability, and left knee disability. The Board has remanded these claims due to the need for further development.

The Board has restored the appellant's disability ratings for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and right knee, finding that the reductions were improper due to lack of medical improvement under ordinary conditions of work and life. The cases are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to June 1, 2009 was denied as the percentage requirements for schedular entitlement were not met before that date. The effective date of TDIU is set at June 1, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU and DEA prior to July 29, 2020 was denied as the evidence did not show he was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one needs to be conducted to determine if the Veteran's left knee disorder is related to her service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including asthma, cervical spine degenerative joint disease, bilateral knee degenerative joint disease, left ear hearing loss, and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, prevented him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment consistent with his educational and vocational experience. The Board granted TDIU effective September 25, 2018.

The Board has determined that the March 26, 2019 Notice of Disagreement was timely filed and serves to initiate an appeal with respect to the July 2017 rating decision denying service connection for various conditions.

The appeal for entitlement to service connection for right hip limitation of flexion is dismissed.,Service connection for a left ankle disability as secondary to the service-connected left tibia-fibula fracture is denied.,Service connection for a left foot disability as secondary to the service-connected left tibia-fibula fracture is denied.,The appeal for entitlement to service connection for low back disability, as secondary to the service-connected left tibia-fibula fracture is remanded.,The appeal for entitlement to service connection for left hip disability, as secondary to the service-connected left tibia-fibula fracture is remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied due to the lack of a valid application filed prior to February 10, 2020.,The effective date for the grant of service connection is set at February 10, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and right knee disabilities prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of right knee traumatic synovitis, and the Board dismissed the case.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, back condition (claimed as tailbone injury), ear condition (claimed as eardrum injury/pain and severe ear infection right ear, otitis media), neck condition, back condition, left knee condition, and bilateral elbow injury are denied. The claim for bilateral foot fungus is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and a need for additional medical examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits from March 14, 2014 are granted. The effective date for the TDIU is set at March 14, 2014, as it was determined that he became unemployable due to his service-connected right knee disability prior to this date.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of tinnitus as it was already granted in a previous rating decision. The left knee disability claim is denied due to lack of evidence showing its onset during service or being related to an injury, event, or disease incurred in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, tinnitus, insomnia, and benign prostatic hypertrophy were granted with an effective date of May 17, 2019. The Veteran now seeks an earlier effective date.