Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's initial and increased rating claims for his right knee disabilities have been granted, with a specific 20 percent rating assigned for right knee instability effective February 7, 2021.

The Veteran's right knee residuals status post total knee replacement resulted in a preexisting condition being aggravated by VA medical treatment, warranting an effective date of January 10, 2011 for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports readjudication of the claims for service connection for allergies, chest pains, headaches, sleep problems, low back disability, left ankle disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability.,New evidence includes VA treatment records indicating diagnoses such as insomnia, anxiety, migraines, adjustment disorder with depression, and PTSD. The Veteran's history of service-related symptoms is also relevant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety and depression, tinnitus, bilateral foot disorders, left knee disorder, bilateral sciatic nerve disorders, and sinusitis, have all been denied. The Board found no current disability associated with the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy and bilateral knee osteoarthritis have been granted. However, the claim for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disorder is related to service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee DJD limitation of flexion and extension were denied as the evidence did not show that his disability warranted higher ratings under VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for left knee arthritis and TDIU prior to April 7, 2020 are being remanded due to the addition of new evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and left hip strain, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) has reinstated the Veteran's 30 percent disability rating for right knee with degenerative changes of the medial compartment as well as the medial and lateral menisci, effective March 1, 2013. The Board is restoring this rating.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as prostate condition (including as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange), finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis and left lower extremity radiculopathy and sciatica (claimed as left foot disability). The Veteran's current disabilities are found to be related to his in-service motor vehicle accident, which resulted in a back injury requiring surgery.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability and its relationship to service-connected pes planus.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand orders. The Veteran's left knee condition is being reviewed again for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder was not incurred in service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, TDIU prior to November 16, 2012, and ratings for bilateral lower extremities diabetic neuropathy of the sciatic and femoral nerves. The Veteran's right knee disability was not related to his active service, and his diabetes-related disabilities did not render him unemployable or unable to work.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition, including degenerative arthritis, due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in prior rating decisions which denied service connection for left knee polyarthralgia and right knee polyarthralgia. The TDIU claim is also dismissed. The dysthymic disorder rating is remanded due to a lack of recent examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, finding that her combined rating of 70% or more makes it at least as likely as not that she is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee pain, right knee pain, and back pain due to lack of evidence showing a link between these conditions and his military service.