Knee Board decisions

Your claims for service connection and increased ratings are being returned to the agency that initially handled your claim for review. They will consider all new evidence, including a recent VA examination of your knees.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral pes planus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, poor body alignment, left knee pain, a back disorder (claimed as back pain), and a right knee disorder (claimed as right knee pain) has been granted. The effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral pes planus is July 16, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to treatment of his service-connected left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is remanded as the VA medical opinion provided was inadequate and does not address whether the Veteran's tendon repair is caused or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left lower extremity radiculopathy, left hip and knee DJD, and lumbar spine DJD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since October 22, 2014.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to secure an adequate etiology opinion regarding the claimed conditions, specifically addressing whether they are caused or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and iliotibial band friction syndrome, is related to service. However, due to incomplete records and potential aggravation during a period of active duty, further development is needed.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee impairment and dismissed the claim of service connection for bilateral hand arthritis. The decision is based on evidence showing a relationship between current knee impairment and active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, but the appeal of all other issues is dismissed as moot due to the grant of tinnitus.,The claims for service connection for a gynecological disability and anemia were reopened based on new evidence. The heart disability, left knee disability, respiratory disability, PTSD, and anemia are still pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities make it impossible for him to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus granting his claim for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, low back, and neck disorders due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives. The claim for service connection for sleep apnea is also remanded as a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) was not issued.

The Veteran's right knee strain was granted service connection as it began during his military service and has continued since then.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, tinea corporis, and denied ratings for diabetes and a skin disorder (claimed as rash on arms and body). The claim for service connection for PTSD is remanded.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from July 16, 2013. All service connection claims are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for cervical spine disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and associated lumbar radiculopathy are remanded due to insufficient development of evidence. The AOJ is instructed to search for missing service records and provide a new opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding the onset and causation of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his service-connected bilateral knee conditions, SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance, and SMC based on housebound status are being remanded.,Separate ratings for left and right knee instability prior to October 10, 2009 are also being remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection to right knee degenerative arthritis and an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his left ankle condition due to a withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is partially granted, with a 70 percent rating for PTSD and remanded for further evaluation of his right knee condition. The issues to be addressed are the increased ratings for both conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus, and has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and increased evaluation for cataract with extraction, and IOL OS with glaucoma, macular pigment alteration and vitreous hemorrhage.

The Veteran's lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are granted as service connected. The effective date for the award is February 14, 2018.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are considered to be so severe that they prevent him from obtaining or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.