Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of CUE in a May 1970 rating decision that assigned a 10 percent evaluation for scars of the left lower extremity with retained foreign body at the calf and knee. The Board found no clear and unmistakable error, as the evidence did not demonstrate it was undebatable that a higher rating was warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions were evaluated, with a 10% rating for right knee retropatellar pain syndrome and left knee medial meniscus tear and chondromalacia prior to July 23, 2018. A 20% rating was granted from that date onwards. Service connection for tinnitus was established, while the Veteran's left ankle condition was denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the hepatitis C claim, and his PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), low back condition, left knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, respiratory disorder, and cirrhosis of the liver claims were all denied due to lack of a causal relationship between service and these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied.,The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss on April 16, 2018. The right shoulder strain rating has been increased to 20 percent since June 26, 2018. Service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy was established on the same date.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have no effective dates earlier than April 16, 2018.,Right shoulder strain has an effective date of June 26, 2018. The left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted service connection on the same date.,The Veteran's left hamstring injury residuals and lumbar strain have no effective dates earlier than April 16, 2018.,Left knee strain has an effective date of June 26, 2018. The Veteran's right shoulder strain rating was increased to 20 percent on the same date.,The Veteran's lumbar strain and left knee strain have no effective dates earlier than April 16, 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee condition and back condition, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to her left knee patellofemoral syndrome and TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not show a current diagnosis of left lower extremity radiculopathy, and the VA examiners concluded that the Veteran’s symptoms were related to her musculoskeletal disability rather than a neurological condition.

The Veteran's disability ratings for the period on appeal were sufficient to meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on statutory housebound status under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). The combined disabilities met the requirement of a single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent and additional service-connected disabilities collectively ratable at 60 percent.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the lack of compliance with previous remand instructions regarding an addendum opinion for service connection for right knee status post meniscus tear with degenerative arthritis, as secondary to the service-connected left ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and will adjudicate the claim on the merits.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 40 percent for limitation of extension and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion. The Veteran’s meniscal tear is rated at 20 percent prior to September 26, 2017.,Issues related to service connection for back disability, left leg radiculopathy, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including for right hip disability, left hip disability, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson’s disease, cervical degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and other conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain the Veteran's SSA records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development as some issues require additional evidence or clarification.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left lower extremity radiculopathy and left knee disability have been denied. The current evaluations of 60 percent for the radiculopathy and 10 percent for the left knee are found to be appropriate based on the severity of symptoms and functional limitations.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is rated at a 60 percent since April 1, 2017.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right wrist, forearm, and bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions are related to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for loss of sense of smell as there is insufficient evidence linking this condition to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between any past injury or disease and his current condition.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a vocational assessment and VA examinations of his service-connected disabilities. The case will be referred to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, left knee disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to outstanding records needing to be obtained and examinations being conducted.

The Veteran's increased disability evaluation for degenerative joint disease of the right knee is denied.,The Veteran's claim of an increased disability evaluation for chronic urticaria has been dismissed.