Knee Board decisions

The Board granted a 40 percent rating for chronic lumbar strain, restored the 10 percent rating for right knee patellofemoral syndrome effective February 11, 2023, and granted separate 10 percent ratings for instability of the right knee. The decision also granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD from June 8, 2021, and TDIU based on PTSD alone from August 21, 2021, along with SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on housebound status from the same date.

The appeal was dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election by the Veteran.

The veteran withdrew the appeal by way of a February 2024 Statement in Support of Claim, and the Board has no jurisdiction to review the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, as the evidence does not support that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active duty service.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for increased disability evaluations for left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear with small patellar spur and knee joint osteoarthritis, and persistent instability, left knee.

The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for the residual surgical scar, status post total left knee replacement and increased ratings to 20 percent for complex regional pain syndrome in both lower extremities. Some issues were remanded.

The Veteran's attorney withdrew the appeal of service connection for right and left hip, right and left knee, and back disabilities.

The appeals for ratings and effective dates associated with frostbite of the left and right feet, as well as lumbar spine degenerative joint disease, were dismissed. The issues related to knee limitations and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for epilepsy, psychomotor and service connection for right middle finger scar. Several claims were withdrawn and dismissed.

The Board granted service connection for a left foot disability (other than callosities) and a right hip disability, as well as increased ratings for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral foot disability prior to July 6, 2020, lumbar spine disability, right knee instability prior to October 2, 2019, and left knee instability. However, it denied increased ratings for the bilateral foot disability since July 26, 2020, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and right knee instability since October 2, 2019.

The Board granted disability ratings of 20 percent for left knee meniscal tear and instability, and a 10 percent rating for left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of flexion, but denied an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar spondylotic changes and degenerative disc disease, right hip trochanteric bursitis with enthesopathic changes at the pelvis and femoral trochanters, mild osteoarthritic changes of the right knee, left knee mild osteoarthritic changes, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from February 8, 2014.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury, bilateral knee disabilities, and sinus disability prevented him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment during the period on appeal prior to January 26, 2009.

The Veteran was granted ratings for his left and right knee disabilities, as well as special monthly compensation and TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder and a left knee disorder as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition, and the current conditions were not shown to be related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee and shoulder disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable criteria.

The Board granted a separate initial rating of 10 percent for right knee recurrent instability from November 1, 2022, but denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee strain.

The Board granted a 10 percent rating for hypertension and remanded claims for service connection for bilateral feet onychomycosis, bilateral knee iliotibial band syndrome, and sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee arthritis as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease impacting the knees, and no competent evidence relating the current conditions to service.

The Board granted readjudication of the claims for diabetes, erectile dysfunction, rash, ruptured right ear drum, lower back disc injury, and left knee osteoarthritis based on new and relevant evidence.