Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. Effective dates prior to December 12, 2017 are not warranted.

The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since March 7, 2012. The left knee degenerative joint disease was rated at 10 percent from March 7, 2012 to August 16, 2020 and at 40 percent after that date.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since March 7, 2012. The left knee degenerative joint disease was rated at 10 percent from March 7, 2012 to August 16, 2020 and at 40 percent after that date.

The Veteran's right ankle degenerative arthritis is rated at a maximum of 20 percent.,Throughout the period prior to August 15, 2013, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.,Financial assistance for automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment is denied due to the Veteran's ability to drive and ambulate despite his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's Reserve and National Guard service. The claims will be reviewed again with a focus on verifying her periods of Active Duty Training (ACDUTRA) and Indefinite ACDUTRA (INACDUTRA).

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee disability has been withdrawn and dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate November 2019 VA examination, and a new opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that is related to his military service.,The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee and foot/ankle disabilities, as well as sinusitis due to insufficient medical opinions provided in previous examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease, is at least as likely as not related to her military service. The claim for service connection is therefore granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back condition, bilateral hip conditions, and left knee conditions due to his service-connected right knee condition. The reasons include insufficient medical opinions based on lack of contemporaneous records and failure to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding overcompensating.

The Veteran's service-connected DDD of the lumbar spine is granted at a 40 percent rating prior to May 8, 2015. Other conditions are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and left knee disorder, finding that these conditions are secondary to his service-connected pes planus.

The Board granted an initial rating of 10 percent for a right knee disability and granted an effective date of September 1, 2010. The Board denied an increased rating for the right knee instability.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of right knee replacement, finding that his current condition is related to his active military service.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee disability and chronic kidney disease have been withdrawn.,Service connection has been granted for erectile dysfunction as secondary to lumbar spine disability, hypertension as secondary to acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbar spine disabilities, but the claim for sleep apnea remains pending due to insufficient evidence addressing its relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection regarding his low back disorder and bilateral knee disorders must be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA will schedule the Veteran for examinations or medical opinions to determine if his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for insomnia, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's VA Form 21-4142 was not properly received by the Naval Weapons Station, and more meaningful attempts are needed to obtain the identified records.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including ankle, elbow, foot, hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, neck, back, GERD, hypertension, and eye conditions. The evidence did not show any in-service injury or incident that could be linked to these conditions.,There is no current evidence of a diagnosed disability related to the claimed ankle, elbow, foot, hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, neck, back, GERD, hypertension, or eye disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis with meniscal tear was rated at 10 percent prior to November 4, 2019. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of limitation in motion or other symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was finally denied in January 2018. She filed a petition to reopen her claim on July 16, 2018 and submitted new evidence within one year of the August 2018 rating decision. The RO granted service connection and assigned a 20% rating effective May 31, 2019.