Knee Board decisions

The Veteran is granted a TDIU and DEA during the period from August 29, 2016, to October 5, 2020, due to his service-connected right knee disability preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that the medical evidence did not support higher ratings based on instability or range of motion.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for migraines is granted, while a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection is granted for pes planus, but not for degenerative disease of the lumbar spine, bilateral knee pain, hypertension, GERD, or sleep apnea and generalized anxiety disorder.

The Veteran's appeal of the denial for service connection for various conditions was dismissed due to concurrent elections, and his request for higher-level review was pending when he filed an appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic nephropathy and end stage renal disease with dialysis, diabetic peripheral neuropathies of various extremities, erectile dysfunction, lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, and bilateral knee replacements, do not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct evidence or presumptive exposure to herbicide agents. The Board also found that there was no qualifying exposure to toxic environmental exposures during service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee instability due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has found that the Veteran's lumbosacral sprain may be service connected, but the left knee disability is remanded for further development due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, neck disorder, left hip and right hip disorders, left shoulder and right shoulder disorders, and left knee and right knee disorders. These conditions are considered to be directly related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee instability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on persistent or recurrent instability.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement is rated at a 60 percent rating, which meets the criteria for this level of disability. The Board also found that the Veteran is not unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The appeal regarding service connection for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and compensation for birth defect in child is dismissed.,The appeal regarding increased disability ratings for a right knee condition prior to August 26, 2024 is dismissed.

The appeal of the denial of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is dismissed. The claims of entitlement to service connection for left knee, right knee, sleep apnea, hemorrhoids, and low back disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of the aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disorder and left knee disorder, but denied his claims for service connection for left hand arthritis and right hand arthritis. The hypertension claim is being remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis, and right ear hearing loss have been granted. Claims for left hand injury, kidney stones, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance abuse disorder, left shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and fatty liver disease were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disorders based on decreased flexion and instability were denied, as the effective date cannot be earlier than December 31, 2024 due to the filing of a supplemental claim within one year of the previous denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of elbow, hand and finger, or knee ankylosis. The claims for ankle sprain, hip sprain, lumbosacral sprain (lower back sprain), cervical strain (neck strain), shoulder strain, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded to obtain adequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeals for various ratings related to his service-connected conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent hernia disability, deviated nasal septum, left knee disability, right foot disability, and left foot disability are not supported by evidence showing a direct relationship to active service. The cases have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's tinnitus is not entitled to a rating higher than 10 percent. The claims for service connection of right and left ear hearing loss and left knee disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.