Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, patellofemoral pain syndrome status post traumatic injury of the right knee, left knee tendonitis with painful motion, and left knee tendonitis with limited extension were denied. The claim for left knee patellar instability was granted with a 10% rating effective January 16, 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for non-allergic rhinitis, right knee pain, and left knee pain resulting in impairment in earning capacity on a direct basis.,The Veteran's symptoms of non-allergic rhinitis, right knee pain, and left knee pain have been linked to his period of active duty training (ACDUTRA).

The Board denied the appellant's request for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a January 2025 rating decision, as the supplemental claim did not involve the same or similar basis as the original July 2024 rating decision.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received regarding the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions. The claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of the Veteran's statements and medical records.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was granted service connection with a 20% disability rating. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and left knee disability were denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a July 2024 rating decision because the decision was not an appeal but rather the initial decision with respect to the issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee, back, and left elbow disabilities due to inadequate examinations. The AOJ is directed to obtain medical opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's disabilities during the relevant period on appeal.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of June 22, 2019 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee strain and awarded a 10% rating, effective November 10, 2023. The attorney fees specified in the fee agreement are now payable.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for headaches/migraines, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back condition, a right knee condition, a left knee condition, and bilateral pes planus due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The other issues have been granted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and left knee disability are not service-connected.,The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss or a left knee disability incurred in service.

The Board has dismissed all appealed issues related to effective dates, including those for TBI, tinnitus, tension headaches, bilateral eye disability, psychiatric disability, hypertension, and right knee disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis, right knee, with meniscal tear.

The Board denied a rating higher than 20 percent for left knee extension and a separate compensable rating for left knee instability, finding that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's appeals for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain with painful flexion and for a compensable rating for hearing loss, left ear have been withdrawn by the Veteran through his authorized representative. As such, these issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis is remanded due to the inadequacy of the December 2020 VA examination, which did not include estimated range of motion measurements considering functional loss.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee limitation of flexion and for an initial compensable rating for left knee limitation of extension due to stable symptomatology throughout the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically whether it is directly related to service. The Veteran was provided a VA examination but did not receive an opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful employment for the periods on appeal prior to May 2, 2020, and after June 1, 2020. For the period from March 2, 2020, to June 1, 2020, she was in receipt of a 100 percent schedular rating for total left wrist fusion.