Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use due to his right knee condition, finding that he does not meet the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.350(a). The Board concluded that the Veteran's right knee did not result in loss of use of both legs or an arm and a leg, as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran's mental health condition is granted, and his right ankle strain is granted a 20% rating from September 14, 2014 to June 6, 2016. Other claims are denied or remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is granted effective July 5, 2017. The claims for an increased rating for PTSD and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection for additional disorders are being remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for erythema nodosum has been dismissed due to the appellant's request for withdrawal.,The Board is remanding several issues including tinnitus, acid reflux disease, astigmatism, presbyopia, myopia, cervical dysplasia, uterine fibroids, left knee Baker's cyst, demyelinating disease, bilateral foot neuropathy, and bilateral lower extremity sciatic nerve disability for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service-connected right foot plantar wart and other claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. The left knee strain, TBI residuals, PTSD with TBI, radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities, and radiculopathy of bilateral upper extremities were not granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's bilateral knee condition, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and persistent depressive disorder with anxious features), obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension are all granted service connection.

The Veteran's melanoma and related residuals, as well as his back disability and right knee disability are granted service connection. The left elbow disability is denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease, and the bilateral foot disability is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back, neck, left knee, right knee, right hip, left shoulder and right shoulder conditions as secondary to his service-connected ulcerative colitis. The case is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right elbow condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary and direct service connection.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy is granted a rating of 20 percent, effective from February 26, 2021. The Board also found her left lower extremity radiculopathy to approximate moderate incomplete paralysis and granted it a 20 percent rating as well.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of right knee degenerative joint disease and granted it. The request to reopen the diabetes mellitus claim was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for PTSD, thoracolumbar spine strain, and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal in November 2018.

The Board has dismissed all pending claims for increased ratings and effective dates related to sciatic radiculopathy of the lower extremities and knee strains.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient efforts to obtain Detroit VAMC treatment records and non-VA medical records related to the Veteran's right knee orthopedic surgery. The Veteran is required to provide VA Form 21-4142 for all non-VA providers seen for his right knee disability, and VA must attempt to obtain relevant records from the Detroit VAMC and non-VA providers.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including right and left knee disabilities, neurological condition, peripheral neuropathies, and skin cancer. The appeals are pending due to conflicting evidence regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claim of service connection for a left hip disability. The Board finds that additional evidence and analysis are needed to adjudicate this issue.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for a right shoulder disability was denied. The claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, left knee, and right knee disabilities were also denied. The issues regarding effective dates for left ankle sprains and tympanic membrane tympanosclerosis (right and left) were dismissed.

The Veteran's right knee disability was rated at 10 percent prior to April 5, 2012 and denied a higher rating.,The Veteran's left knee disability was rated at 20 percent prior to September 30, 2011 and denied a higher rating.