Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed because the appeal was untimely filed.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and IBS disabilities are granted as service-connected. The lumbar spine disability remains remanded for further review.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and consideration due to errors in the decision-making process, including a failure to consider all relevant periods of service.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the rating for left knee strain was not proper and has granted restoration of the 10 percent rating. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain and limitation of extension are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues being inextricably intertwined with the character of discharge determination. The Veteran's mental state at the time of misconduct is also under examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance, which grants entitlement to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance. The issue of entitlement to special monthly compensation at a housebound rate is moot due to the grant of aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen previously denied service connection claims for various joint conditions, including right ankle arthritis, left ankle arthritis, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis. The skin condition claim is remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, including arthritis and a meniscal tear, finding that his current condition is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability due to errors in obtaining pre-decisional duty to assist. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence when readjudicating the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's current condition is directly related to an injury sustained during military service.

The Veteran's left and right knee conditions are granted service connection as they first manifested in service.,Service connection for PTSD is denied, but the Veteran has been granted service connection for major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's left knee strain is granted as service connected. The right knee strain claim for an increased rating is remanded.

The Veteran's reduction in evaluation for left knee instability from 10 percent to 0 percent was improper, and his prior 10 percent rating is restored. The Board also found that SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) should be granted starting May 13, 2024.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine, right hip, and right knee disabilities due to secondary service connection. The Veteran contends his current conditions are related to his service-connected right leg disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, bilateral knee and shoulder disabilities are found to have caused his sleep apnea through the aggravation of obesity. Service connection for sleep apnea is granted as secondary to these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher disability rating and an earlier effective date were dismissed as they are duplicative of previous decisions.

The Veteran's bilateral knee, ankle, and foot disorders are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to military service.,Service connection for a respiratory disorder is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, left knee condition, right knee condition, low back condition, and neck condition as these conditions are not shown to have had their onset or be otherwise directly related to his period of honorable active-duty service from March 15, 2003, to August 8, 2003, and from October 17, 2005, to November 3, 2013.

The Veteran's initial rating for left and right shoulder degenerative arthritis was denied. The Veteran also had his cervical spine radiculopathy granted, as well as a grant of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis effective March 13, 2018.,The Veteran's allergic rhinitis was granted effective December 27, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip and low back disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability. Service connection for left knee disability was denied.