Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for right hip, left hip, right foot plantar fasciitis, and low back conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and right knee disorder were also dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back condition, left hip disability, and left knee disability due to insufficient medical evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran must undergo VA examinations to determine if his current disabilities are related to his active service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, finding that it is related to service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for neck, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disabilities are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. Further examination is needed to determine the nature of his current conditions and their relationship to service.

The Board has dismissed all appeals regarding the Veteran's claims for various disabilities, including femoral acetabular impingement syndrome of the left hip with bursitis with limitation of flexion, right and left knee disabilities, and a psychiatric disorder. The Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes was denied, and the Board found that there is no current disability of diabetes. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was granted as his PTSD and gout disabilities prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim based on a single service-connected disability is denied as the evidence does not show that either of his knee disabilities alone renders him unable to work.,The Veteran's SMC claims for housebound status are also denied due to lack of permanent confinement or institutionalization.

The Board has dismissed all claims related to the Veteran's left knee disabilities, including those for a higher rating and effective dates.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits are granted from August 25, 2008. The effective date for TDIU is established based on the earliest claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, while the effective date for DEA benefits is set to match the TDIU grant.

The Board has granted the petition to readjudicate the claims of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability and a back disability, but has remanded both claims due to new evidence presented by the Veteran during his hearing. The AOJ will need to provide additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these disabilities.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error and requires a VA examination to determine the severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran seeks an effective date earlier than July 30, 2015 for the award of service connection for left knee and right knee disabilities based on limited flexion. The AOJ has assigned the earliest possible effective date for the grant of benefits, the date of receipt of the claim.,For the entire appeal period beginning July 30, 2015, the Veteran's bilateral knee disability was rated at a 10 percent evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5260 based on limitation of flexion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for an unspecified trauma or stress-related disorder was denied as her symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating after August 1, 2020 for right knee arthoplasty with postoperative synovectomy with reflex sympathetic dystrophy was dismissed due to premature appeal and the maximum benefit having been awarded.

The Veteran's initial 50% rating for migraine headaches is granted, and an increased 30% rating for right knee limitation of flexion from December 8, 2017 is also granted. Initial ratings of 40% and 20% are assigned for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and left lower extremity respectively.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating than 10 percent for right ankle disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, or right and left knee instability under either pre- or post-amended criteria. A separate 10 percent rating was granted for right knee instability and left knee instability. The Veteran's back disability received an initial 40 percent rating from June 9, 2014 to March 24, 2020, but the Board denied a higher rating as of March 25, 2020. Migraines were rated at 30 percent and PTSD was not found to warrant a higher than 50 percent rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require the need for regular aid and attendance, which has been granted special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's right knee instability rating was reduced from 20% to 10%, but this reduction is void ab initio due to procedural errors. The increased evaluation claim for the period in question remains pending and requires further adjudication.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The right knee condition is related to in-service injury, while the TBI residuals are not clearly linked to service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee osteoarthritis and earlier effective dates for service connection are being remanded.,The initial rating for left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion is denied, as the motion does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.