Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy, have been granted service connection. The initial ratings for the knee disabilities are set at 10 percent each.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for light sensitivity is granted. The claims for service connection for bilateral knee strain and bilateral foot condition are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected due to in-service noise exposure.,The Veteran's right shoulder condition, including tendonitis and ACJ sprain, is granted as service-connected based on in-service onset and continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's right knee condition, including meniscal tear with degenerative arthritis, is granted as service-connected due to in-service onset and continuity of symptoms since service.,The Veteran's left knee meniscal tear is granted as service-connected due to in-service onset and secondary to the right knee condition.,The Veteran's left Achilles tendinitis is granted as service-connected based on in-service onset.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of August 12, 2011 for his entitlement to Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The decision is based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since August 12, 2011.

The Veteran's right knee disability (status post total knee arthroplasty) is rated at 60 percent prior to December 10, 2024 and denied for higher ratings thereafter. His left knee disability remains at 10 percent. The bilateral eye condition was initially rated at 10 percent but increased to 20 percent beginning December 12, 2024. TDIU is granted prior to August 1, 2023.

The Veteran's SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless that he needed regular aid and attendance. The criteria for SMC at the housebound rate have also not been met.

The Veteran has withdrawn all pending appeals, including those related to service connection for various conditions and a rating for migraines and erectile dysfunction.

The Board denied the appeal to sever SMC-HB effective June 1, 2025 due to failure to include an end date for the award of SMC-HB resulting in payment of benefits following expiration of the temporary total rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period, and therefore, his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection are being remanded due to scheduling conflicts preventing VA examinations, and the claim for a higher rating based on multiple noncompensable disabilities is inextricably intertwined with other pending claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of adequate VA examination. The Veteran's current knee disabilities are claimed as related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied, and the RO has granted service connection for PTSD, degenerative arthritis with degenerative disc disease and intervertebral disc syndrome, left knee strain (claimed as left knee injury), left lower extremity radiculopathy, bilateral pes planus, and asthma effective July 11, 2023.,The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability was granted, with an initial 20 percent rating being assigned.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for HTN and right ear hearing loss were granted. A separate 10% rating was granted for painful limitation of flexion in the bilateral knees, while a denial was issued for an increased rating for central serous choretinopathy and for a rating in excess of 10% for bilateral lateral instability.

The Veteran's chronic sebaceous cysts have not resulted in any scarring, disfigurement of the head, face, or neck, and do not impact his ability to work. Therefore, a compensable rating is denied.,The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, but there is evidence suggesting that they may warrant higher ratings due to their severity.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the Veteran and his representative have withdrawn their appeals for all issues on appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee condition is related to service, specifically the April 1993 car accident. The Veteran contends that his current pain and disability are linked to this in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease.