Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for low back disability, bilateral hip osteoarthritis, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis are granted. The Board found that the Veteran experienced pain during Airborne training in service and has had these conditions since then.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee strain, pseudofolliculitis barbae, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral elbow strain, and sleep apnea. The evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether these disabilities began during active service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of right ankle, right knee, and left knee conditions due to a lack of inpatient/outpatient treatment records from Wiesbaden Air Base Hospital. The Veteran contends that his injuries were caused by a fall out of a second-story window during military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right shin splints, but the issues of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for clothing allowances were denied because the evidence did not show that her knee braces or cane caused damage to her outer garments, and shoes are not considered clothing for VA purposes.,The Veteran was found to have multiple service-connected disabilities including PTSD, lumbosacral strain, bilateral hearing loss and bronchitis, right and left knee conditions, tinnitus, and radiculopathy. However, the evidence did not show that her knee braces or cane caused damage to her outer garments.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed for the Veteran's claims related to his right knee and ankle disorders, as well as a remand for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination reports. The Veteran's complaints of knee pain during service are noted, but further evaluation is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's conditions are due to his parachute jumps in service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability.

The Veteran's right and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome are granted with a rating of 20 percent each.,The effective date for the award of service connection for right and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome is set at April 2, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for left knee and left shoulder disabilities, finding no evidence of in-service injuries or diseases that could be linked to the current conditions. The onset of symptoms was many years after service separation.

The Board has identified a duty to assist error and requires a remand for an examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right total knee replacement.

The Board has granted effective dates of December 7, 2015 for the service connection of bilateral flat foot with degenerative arthritis, left knee strain with shin splints, right knee strain with shin splints, right ankle degenerative arthritis, and left ankle degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's SMC from January 5, 2018, to April 12, 2023, is granted at the rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(n) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination findings and requests for another VA examination to properly assess the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral below knee amputation and right lower extremity hemiparesis were rated at 100% effective December 31, 2019. The Veteran also received SMC based on a higher level of aid and attendance effective December 31, 2019.

The Board has determined that new evidence received after the prior final denial warrants readjudication of the claim for service connection for a right knee condition. The Veteran's tinnitus and asthma claims are denied, while her request to reopen her right knee condition claim is granted and remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 8, 2017, for the grant of a 60 percent rating for his left knee injury s/p total knee replacement is granted.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of December 8, 2017, for the grant of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected scars, right and left lower extremities, were granted effective February 19, 2020. The Veteran also received increased ratings for his painful scars of the bilateral knees as of that date. His knee disabilities, including ACL reconstruction with traumatic arthritis and meniscal tear, were also rated based on their specific manifestations.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of his hands or feet, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes to the specified degree necessary for the award of adaptive equipment, scar formation resulting from severe burn injury, or ankylosis of his knees or hips. Therefore, he is denied eligibility for financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment.