Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's eligibility to enroll in the PCAFC was denied due to a lack of personal care services for six continuous months. The Board has ordered remand to obtain additional records and seek clarification from the CEAT.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in not obtaining the Veteran's complete service treatment records from his period of active service. The claim will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5020-5060. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the case for consideration of the ameliorative effects of medication on the Veteran's symptoms.

The claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus II, and high blood pressure remain denied as new and relevant evidence has not been received.,The claims for cervical spine condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition are all denied due to lack of service connection or no showing of a nexus between the conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a left arm disability and blurred vision have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various foot, knee, hip, back, neck, and headache disabilities are being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis on a direct basis, finding that the Veteran's current disability had its onset in service.

The Veteran's low back, right ankle, and right knee disabilities are granted as service-connected. The left lower extremity scar and bilateral hydroceles with right epididymal cyst do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with degenerative arthritis is rated at 20 percent, effective January 15, 2020. Service connection for a low back disability and recurrent left lower extremity pain are granted.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support a higher rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis or right knee limitation of flexion, but granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for symptomatic residuals of right meniscectomy. Service connection was denied for left knee, left shoulder, bilateral hip, liver, and heart conditions.

The appeal for service connection of right and left knee disorders, as well as evaluations for left ear hearing loss, right shoulder, and left shoulder has been dismissed.,The appeals for service connection of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) claimed as chronic tiredness, disability claimed as frequent sickness due to burn pits, and sleep apnea and sleep difficulties have also been dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for increased ratings and restoration of a rating. The left knee extension issue was not pursued, the right ankle disability issues were resolved, and the cold urticaria issue had its reduction restored.

An effective date of February 17, 2023, and no earlier, for the award of service connection and initial 20 percent disability rating for right knee degenerative joint disease with instability is granted.,From March 24, 2023, an initial disability rating of 10 percent for service-connected right hip degenerative joint disease limitation of flexion is granted. An effective date of February 17, 2023, and no earlier, for the award of an increased disability rating of 10 percent for service-connected right hip degenerative joint disease with limitation of abduction, adduction, internal rotation, and external rotation is granted.

The Veteran's right knee strain with degenerative joint disease and instability, as well as his lower extremity radiculopathies (femoral and sciatic nerves), are now rated at 30 percent effective July 12, 2022.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including hematuria, hiatal hernia, arrhythmia, left knee condition, and right knee condition. The remand requires additional examinations and opinions to address duty-to-assist errors in previous decisions.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not filed within one year of the rating decision, and no extension of time to file an appeal was granted due to lack of good cause.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's conditions began during active service, manifested within one year after discharge from service, or were noted during service with continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the Board has determined that a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain, left knee strain, and right ankle tibial fracture are not warranted. The claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, left knee disability, and left hip disability, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, right hip, and left hip conditions due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.