Knee decisions — 2024

The Board has found that the Veteran's left knee strain, back condition, and left hip condition are secondary to his service-connected right knee replacement. The claims for these conditions have been remanded due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's left knee pain status post-replacement and associated peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are granted with specific ratings. Parkinson's disease is also granted as due to herbicide exposure, but service connection for IBS and colitis remains pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that it is not factually ascertainable that his service-connected conditions rendered him unemployable prior to September 23, 2016.

Effective dates for service connection granted for right hip osteoarthritis and right knee degenerative arthritis have been set as of July 12, 2018. The Veteran's claim was reopened on new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient examination reports addressing flare-ups of symptoms. The Veteran's current disability ratings are denied as there is no evidence of a right shoulder disability related to active service, and his left and right knee disabilities do not warrant higher ratings.

The Board has restored the 30 percent rating for limitation of flexion/extension, left knee osteoarthritis due to a reduction in rating from 30 to 10 percent being improper.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot condition, left ankle condition, and right foot condition. Service connection was denied for a right ankle condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and generalized osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted service connection for low back, left hip, right ankle, right knee, and left knee disabilities. Service connection was denied for gastroenteritis, respiratory disability (sinusitis and rhinitis), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis with meniscal tear is granted a separate 20% rating, while his other conditions remain at the maximum schedular ratings. The GERD claim was denied and service connection for a cervical spine condition is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of TBI have been found to necessitate a higher level of aid and attendance, warranting SMC(t) from January 6, 2015.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for fatty liver disease. The claims for service connection for headaches and left knee disability are granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection on right knee chondromalacia, right foot osteoarthritis, and a left foot condition due to untimely filing of VA Form 10182.

The Veteran's left knee meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, status post partial replacement surgery, has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection. The current rating is denied as it does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not file a timely substantive appeal following the issuance of a September 2019 Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection claims related to migraines, right knee disability, left foot disability, and right foot disability as secondary to other conditions. The issues were withdrawn by the Veteran prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chondromalacia of the patella, degenerative changes in the lumbar spine, and degenerative changes in the cervical spine have been granted. The Board found that these conditions are causally related to his military duties.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased rating of her left knee arthritis with meniscal tear and strain, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, with obesity serving as an intermediary step.

The Veteran's left knee disability and left knee scar were evaluated, with the left knee disability denied for an increased rating. The issues of service connection for osteomyelitis, back disability, and neck disability are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to lidocaine cream and patches, finding that they were not related to service-connected skin conditions and did not cause irreparable damage to his outergarments.