Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's application for a clothing allowance on a static/recurring basis for his left leg prosthesis was denied as he must now apply annually, due to the change in VHA policy.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee DJD is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for allergic rhinitis was denied.,The Veteran was granted entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his inability to perform daily activities such as feeding, dressing, bathing, and attending to personal hygiene needs. The Board has granted special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since April 24, 2017. The Board is remanding the case to consider whether a higher rating of 70% is warranted as of April 24, 2018.

The Veteran has withdrawn his claims for urinary tract disorder, left foot injury, and right foot injury. The remaining issues of service connection for shoulder disorders, knee disorder, plantar fasciitis, and gastrointestinal disorder are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates prior to July 15, 2013, were denied as the evidence did not show that increases in disability occurred prior to this date. The right knee scar was rated compensable but no higher, while the lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and RLE radiculopathy received increased ratings effective July 15, 2013.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in a previous decision regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disability and his military service. A new VA examination is required to determine if there is any link between the Veteran's current right knee disability and his time in the Army.

The Board has granted a TDIU from May 3, 2002 through June 22, 2010 and again from June 23, 2010 through July 8, 2010 due to service-connected back and bilateral knee disabilities preventing the Veteran from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) and his TDIU prior to February 28, 2014 are both remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right hand or wrist, back, and right knee conditions are remanded due to insufficient information. A VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee osteoarthritis, instability, lumbosacral spine disability, and radiculopathy of the right lower extremity have been granted. The initial rating for right knee osteoarthritis is set at 20 percent effective February 1, 2012, with a higher initial 30 percent rating effective August 17, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee degenerative joint disease, finding that it is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of discussion regarding active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease, as well as left foot pain. The Veteran's disabilities are deemed to have resulted from in-service injuries.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to engage and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's initial rating for headaches prior to August 4, 2021 was denied.,The Veteran's increased rating for headaches since August 4, 2021 was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unemployable, as he was able to maintain gainful employment prior to September 8, 2008. From September 8, 2008, the combined rating of his service-connected disabilities met the criteria for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his acquired psychiatric disability (depression and PTSD), migraine headaches, degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine with intervertebral disc syndrome and lumbar strain, left hip osteoarthritis, right hip osteoarthritis, right lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve, patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right knee, lateral instability, post-operative patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee, and surgical scars of the left knee, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.