Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an upper back/neck condition and right knee osteoarthritis and osteomalacia due to new evidence received after the initial decision. The Veteran's attorney raised a secondary service connection theory, but this cannot be considered as a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's right shoulder bursitis, bilateral achilles tendonitis, and left knee disability have been rated for the relevant period. The Board has granted a 40% rating for his right shoulder bursitis from July 1, 2013, and TDIU is granted.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU and DEA for the period beginning January 30, 2017 due to service-connected disabilities that precluded substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for degenerative arthritis left knee with strain and limitation of extension prior to January 21, 2023, is denied. The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis left knee with strain and painful motion/limitation of flexion prior to January 21, 2023, is also denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for degenerative arthritis left knee with strain and limitation of extension prior to January 21, 2023, is denied. The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis left knee with strain and painful motion/limitation of flexion prior to January 21, 2023, is also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left knee osteoarthritis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome due to new and relevant evidence submitted since previous rating decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for annual clothing allowances for bilateral knee braces and topical pain cream due to lack of evidence showing that these items caused wear and tear on her clothing.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of left knee, right knee, and low back pain.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has determined that the appellant's character of discharge is unclear and remands for further action to obtain relevant personnel records, including those related to his request for discharge upgrade.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, instability, and total knee replacement, left knee scar, right-hand degenerative arthritis disability, left-hand osteoarthritis disability, and lumbosacral strain with osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. The claims for left shoulder disability, higher evaluations for hip disabilities, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for various disabilities including hypertension, diarrhea, right knee disability, right leg disability, right foot disability, left foot disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, low back disability, and thoracic spine disability due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee and right knee conditions due to the appellant's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The claim for a higher rating for posttraumatic dyslexia from January 14, 2013 to November 29, 2016 has been granted with a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating greater than 50 percent for bilateral plantar fasciitis is denied. The Board found that the disability has been rated at its maximum and no higher ratings are warranted. For his TDIU claim, the Veteran was granted a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a right knee disability was dismissed because the claim had already been granted in a previous rating decision.

The Veteran's left knee strain is rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating due to limited flexion.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine condition is rated at 20 percent, and there is no evidence of ankylosis or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including tendonitis with derangement of unspecified meniscus, is related to an in-service injury and granted service connection for this condition.