Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for all claimed conditions, finding that the evidence did not support a link between any of these conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, lower back disability, cervical spine disability, and arthritis have been granted service connection. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction secondary to his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder has also been granted service connection. However, the Veteran's yeast infection secondary to CPAP therapy for sleep apnea remains pending.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 20% since December 17, 2007. The Board has granted a separate rating for numbness associated with the left knee.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sleep disturbances, which are claimed to be related to his service-connected bilateral knee disability, need further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations, service connection, and other issues are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for a new examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate compliance with previous directives and need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IBS, and right knee pain, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since December 28, 2009. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's left knee strain is related to his service-connected right knee issues.

The Veteran's initial rating claims for right and left knee disabilities were denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher than 10 percent rating. The Veteran's claim for TDIU was also denied due to his ability to maintain gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that they do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right knee arthritis, which is presumed to have existed prior to service. The examiner must address whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is dismissed because he has a total schedular rating for his service-connected disabilities. The appeal for SMC under the housebound or aid and attendance criteria is also dismissed as there are no conditions that meet the requirements for these benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected right hip tendonitis is currently rated at 10 percent prior to November 8, 2019, and at 20 percent thereafter. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating for this condition.,For his service-connected right knee retropatellar pain syndrome and left knee retropatellar pain syndrome, the Veteran is currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board determined that these disabilities are not more disabling than their current ratings.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including osteoarthritis, are found to be at least as likely as not caused by injuries sustained during his periods of active service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for his right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome from March 9, 2018. Prior to this date, the conditions were not rated higher.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the lower back, right hand, left hand, right shoulder, right knee, and left knee as there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete development and for consideration of a private vocational assessment. The issues include service connection for a left knee disorder, as well as effective date determinations for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, finding insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current disabilities and military service.

The Veteran's left knee disability was granted an increased evaluation of 20 percent from May 14, 2010 to June 25, 2012.