Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10 percent from February 1, 2008 to August 18, 2020 and at 20 percent beginning August 19, 2020. The rating for limitation of flexion remains unchanged.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a cervical spine disability and right knee arthritis due to incomplete development. The VA providers are requested to provide addendum opinions on the etiology of these disabilities, considering all pertinent medical and lay evidence.

The Veteran's knee brace caused wear, tear, and/or irreparable damage to his clothing in the 2018 calendar year. The Board found sufficient evidence to grant a clothing allowance for this issue.

The Veteran's right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome with degenerative joint disease were granted initial evaluations of 10 percent from July 16, 2012.

The Veteran's right knee disability necessitated a temporary total rating for convalescence from November 20, 2017 through January 31, 2018. From October 31, 2018 to December 31, 2018, he received a temporary total rating following an arthroscopy with allograft ACL reconstruction.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding her left knee and elbow disabilities and a VA examination for her back disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee arthritis, including knee replacements. The decision is based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has ordered the Veteran to be scheduled for new VA examinations to assess his service-connected back pain, flat feet, and right knee osteoarthritis due to worsening symptoms reported at his hearing.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee disability has been dismissed because the Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and lack of documentation in the record regarding the onset or cause of his disabilities. The Veteran will need to undergo further examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and a psychiatric condition due to new and material evidence. The cases are now remanded for further development, including obtaining missing military records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to his in-service stressor.,Bilateral hearing loss is denied as the evidence does not show a current disability meeting VA criteria.

The Board has determined that the VA's duty to assist the Veteran was not fulfilled, and thus remanded the cases for further action. The issues of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for service-connected bilateral hearing loss, an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a service-connected right knee strain, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a service-connected left knee strain are now before the Board.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU was denied. The rating for residuals of right knee replacement from January 13, 2012 to September 1, 2020 is denied as the symptoms do not warrant a higher than 60 percent rating.,From September 1, 2020, the Veteran's claim for TDIU on schedular basis was denied. The claim for TDIU on extraschedular basis from September 1, 2020 is also denied.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,There is no evidence of a current right foot disability or left foot disability that meets service connection requirements.,No current left knee disability has been established.,No current right hand disability has been established.,No current left hand disability has been established.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants due to incomplete medical records and unclear extent of service-connected conditions affecting mobility.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right knee and Achilles' tendon disabilities due to a lack of recent VA treatment records, and to obtain updated examinations to assess current severity.

The Board has determined that the current evidence is insufficient to decide the claim for service connection for a right knee disability, secondary to his service-connected back disability. The case is being remanded for further clarification and examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and further development is needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his left knee and right shoulder conditions, made him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of May 13, 2013. He also received SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.