Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a right arm disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation prior to November 7, 2019, for service-connected surgical scars, right and left knees, is denied.,A compensable rating of 20 percent, beginning November 7, 2019, for service-connected surgical scar, right and left knees, is granted.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings exceeding 60 percent for his service-connected status post total left knee replacement and status post total right knee replacement are remanded.,The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The scar of the left femur was not found to meet criteria for a compensable rating, and his depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder prior to September 25, 2019 and in excess of 70 percent thereafter after that date were also denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of both feet due to service-connected bilateral plantar fasciitis and fibromyalgia with chondromalacia of the knees, resolving all doubt in her favor.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and a right leg disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service or his service-connected right ankle disability. The current rating of 10 percent for the right ankle disability is maintained.

The petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability is granted, and the appeal is allowed to that extent. The right knee disability claim remains denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability, prior to June 9, 2015, resulted in flexion limited to 100 degrees with associated pain and functional impairment. The Board found the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation on and after May 26, 2009. The Board has granted TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's low back disability is rated at 40 percent, effective October 22, 2019. The right knee disability remains at a 10 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to internal inconsistency in a March 2020 VA examination report regarding right knee ankylosis, and for obtaining additional treatment records. A new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person due to his limited mobility, standing endurance, risk of falling, and difficulty with dressing and bathing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders due to a lack of consideration of all relevant evidence, including service treatment records.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right shoulder, left shoulder, left knee, and left foot disabilities due to a Joint Motion for Partial Remand (JMPR) filed by the parties. The appellant contends her current disabilities are related to military physical training over time.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities (meniscus tear) secondary to service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS). The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, as there was no recent examination and the Veteran testified that symptoms have worsened since the last one.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 20 percent since January 4, 2019. The rating was increased from the previous 10 percent prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the TDIU claim due to incomplete documentation, including a lack of verification of incarceration dates and missing SSA records. The Veteran needs to provide completed VA Form 21-8940 and undergo a functional impact assessment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The decision also noted that the Veteran's right hip disorder was not related to active service or caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, left shoulder, and low back disorders. However, the appeals were denied as there is no evidence that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was reopened, and he is now granted initial disability ratings for his lumbar spine condition, right knee strain, left knee strain, and TDIU.