Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee brace causes wear and tear to his clothing, which is a service-connected disability. The Board granted the clothing allowance for the 2015 calendar year.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and left knee conditions are rated, but her mental health disorders require further examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

Your claims for service connection of left hip, left knee, and right knee disabilities have been granted in a December 2020 rating decision. The Board has dismissed your appeals for an increased rating for PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link between his current disability and service. The appeal was also denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his thoracolumbar spine and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the right ear hearing loss. The left knee disorder is denied as not incurred in service.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for a schedular TDIU rating. The Board finds that referral to the Director of Compensation Service is denied as there is no evidence showing the Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the issue of entitlement to a rating in excess of 30 percent for right knee disability status post replacement from December 1, 2018. The issues of increased ratings for right knee instability and symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage from November 1, 2016 to October 16, 2017 are still pending.

The Board dismissed the appeals because the Veteran passed away during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection for a left knee disability and obesity caused by a right knee disability.

The Veteran's right and left knees were evaluated under the criteria for arthritis following total knee replacement, with a minimum of 30% disability rating. The issues related to instability have been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a bilateral knee disorder, a back disorder, and a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives.,Specifically, the VA examinations did not consider the Veteran's documented complaints or diagnoses during the appeals period and relied on incorrect premises in reaching their medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to address the bilateral knee disabilities, service connection claims, and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neck disability, but remanded the issues of service connection for his lumbar spine and left knee disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability, but remanded his claims for right knee condition and rectum disorder due to additional development being needed.

The appeal seeking a higher rating for degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the thoracolumbar spine is dismissed.,A rating higher than 10 percent for limitation of extension of the left knee is denied.,A compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,A rating higher than 10 percent for shrapnel wound scar of the upper left chest is denied.,A compensable rating for residual scars from right hip replacement and shrapnel wound scar is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 100% effective August 1, 2018. The rating was reduced to 50% in July 2019 due to improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work. The appeal is granted as the reduction was improper.,Effective dates for service connection are determined based on when entitlement arose or when a claim was received within one year of separation from service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, left ear hearing loss, and other conditions are service-connected. However, several issues related to knee conditions, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), phlebitis, bronchitis, undiagnosed illness, and fatigue have been remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board dismissed all claims related to service connection and ratings for various conditions, including radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, degenerative disc disease and degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, osteoarthritis of the left knee, and degenerative arthritis of the right knee. The effective dates were also not granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence from 1985-1986. The Veteran will need to provide additional VA treatment records, and a new examination will be conducted.