Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right wrist disability has been withdrawn.,Service connection for left knee, right knee, and left ankle disabilities have all been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and insomnia disorder are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board finds no evidence to support evaluations in excess of these ratings.

The claim for service connection for PTSD is dismissed.,Service connection for left knee arthritis, to include as secondary to a right knee disability, is denied.,The claim for service connection for headaches/migraines is remanded.,The claim for service connection for chronic pelvic pain, to include as secondary to a right knee disability, is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities effective January 26, 2021. The Veteran's initial claim was denied in May 2018 and the appeal is based on a new claim filed on June 30, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of recurrent bronchitis, left knee disorder, and neck disorder is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The issues are related to whether these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Veteran's service-connected tinnitus is rated at the maximum allowable under Diagnostic Code 6260, and no higher rating is warranted.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable (0 percent) based on the average pure tone thresholds in both ears being within the range of level I hearing impairment.,Prior to February 14, 2020, the Veteran's dermatitis was rated at a noncompensable (0 percent) disability rating. Effective from February 14, 2020, it is rated as 30 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7806.,Prior to June 19, 2017, the Veteran's left carpal tunnel syndrome was rated at a noncompensable (0 percent) disability rating. Effective from June 19, 2017, it is rated as 40 percent disabling under Diagnostic Codes 5215-8515.,Prior to June 19, 2017, the Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome was rated at a noncompensable (0 percent) disability rating. Effective from June 19, 2017, it is rated as 40 percent disabling under Diagnostic Codes 5215-8515.,Prior to June 19, 2017, the Veteran's left knee arthritis was rated at a noncompensable (0 percent) disability rating. Effective from August 30, 2012, it is rated as 40 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5260.,Prior to June 19, 2017, the Veteran's right knee arthritis was rated at a noncompensable (0 percent) disability rating. Effective from August 30, 2012, it is rated as 40 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 5260.,The Veteran's arthroscopic scars in the left knee were granted service connection effective from December 9, 2008, and no earlier date has been established.,All other issues have been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for TDIU and DEA benefits due to service-connected disabilities, as there is a duty-to-assist error regarding a private vocational opinion submitted in February 2014. The Veteran's entitlement to an extra-schedular TDIU prior to March 1, 2011, will be referred to the Director of Compensation for consideration.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death. The claims are no longer pending as the Veteran died during their pendency.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal for eligibility to direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a January 2023 Rating Decision.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of right and left knee disorders have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been reopened and granted. The claims for cervical strain and right knee disorders have been remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of shortness of breath, hypertension, right knee disability, left knee disability, or OSA. The claims for these conditions are being remanded due to procedural and evidentiary issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a neck condition and a left knee condition due to inadequate medical opinions and failure to consider all relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for increased rating and service connection were dismissed due to a procedural defect.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot amputation and left leg above the knee amputation, finding a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not obtaining VA opinions addressing these claims on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's left knee ACL reconstruction and meniscal tear with limitation of extension rating was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent, effective December 28, 2020. The right knee strain with arthritis and left knee instability ratings were upheld.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, warranting the grant of TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left knee internal derangement with limitation of flexion is denied. A separate initial 20 percent rating for left knee instability, from December 17, 2018 to the present, is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is remanded due to duty-to-assist errors in developing the record and obtaining an adequate VA examination.