Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 21, 2011 for the service connection of right knee meniscal tear, with a rating of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations provided for the Veteran's knee and palatal tympanic myocronus claims were inadequate, and thus these cases must be remanded to obtain new evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, right ankle condition, right shoulder condition, left knee condition, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and migraines due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to her already receiving the maximum allowable benefits.,Earlier effective dates are denied for flexion impairment of the left knee, GERD, and bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for SMC(o) was denied as he could not receive multiple awards of SMC(l). The right shoulder bicipital tendonitis rating was denied, and the TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his bilateral lower extremity conditions and PTSD, resulted in a loss of use of both lower extremities such that he is entitled to specially adapted housing.

The Board has found that the reductions of ratings for back and right knee disabilities were improper due to inadequate examinations. The claims are remanded for further evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left ankle strain, left knee strain, and bilateral hip strain due to a lack of etiology opinions in the record.

The Board has determined that there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the October 2024 and April 2025 rating decisions, specifically regarding the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, pes planus, right knee disability, lower back strain (lumbosacral strain), and degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) in foot, right. The Board has therefore remanded these issues to correct these errors.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee condition, high blood pressure, and low back condition. Service connection was also denied for pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for lumbosacral spine strain is dismissed. The reduction of the ratings for left and right knee limitations of extension are found to be improper, and the original ratings are restored.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss and left knee strain have been granted service connection, with a 10% disability rating for bilateral hearing loss effective March 21, 2025.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions regarding his bilateral knee and foot conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently found to be related to active duty.

The Board has denied service connection for back and left knee conditions, finding that the evidence does not support a link between current disabilities and in-service injuries or exposures.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the claims for insomnia, loss of sight, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a lack of an adequate VA examination regarding the severity of his service-connected left knee condition. The Board requires an updated examination that considers the ameliorative effects of any medications he uses for treatment.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete records, including SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's right knee tendinopathy, tendinitis is not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right knee instability, limited range of motion (ROM), and scar are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss disability is granted, while his back and left ear hearing loss disabilities are denied. The Board found that the evidence does not establish a nexus between the current disabilities and active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of October 22, 2019, for the award of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis.,The Board dismissed the Veteran's attempt to appeal the assigned effective date of March 23, 2020, for the grant of service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis.