Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee brace caused wear and tear to her clothing in 2021, leading the Board to grant a clothing allowance for that year.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues related to erectile dysfunction and bowel dysfunction.

For the period prior to October 29, 2021, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on housebound status is denied.,For the entire appeal period, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) based on need of regular aid and attendance is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral knee and back disorders due to outstanding private treatment records not obtained. The Veteran's tinnitus claim was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the service connection for a lumbar condition and left knee condition, resulting in the dismissal of these issues.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, right hand disability, left hip disability, TBI, and left knee disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.,Specifically, the VA examination in December 2019 determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for bilateral knee disabilities and his right and left knee scars have been granted. He is now rated at a combined 60% disability rating from June 1, 2018 based on bilateral factors for his bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee condition due to inadequate VA opinions and incomplete record development regarding his National Guard service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his awards of ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis based on limitation of extension. The evidence did not show a compensable limitation of extension prior to February 6, 2025.

The Veteran's mumps residuals claim is denied as there is no probative evidence of an in-service infection or related skin issues.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, left knee disability, and left leg injury claims are denied due to lack of service connection. The COPD claim is granted based on presumptive exposure to environmental hazards during the Gulf War.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of 70 percent for service-connected Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood is granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has dismissed the duplicative appeals for service connection of various knee, foot, and ankle conditions due to a resubmitted VA Form 10182 Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is related to his military service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates of service connection for his claimed disabilities, including multi-level bulging lumbar discs, left knee tenosynovitis, right knee tenosynovitis, migraines, and tinnitus. The earliest effective date allowed under VA law is August 25, 2024.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for various service connection and rating decisions related to gout affecting multiple joints, left foot gout, right foot gout, elbow pronation and supination gout, elbow limitation of flexion gout, thumb gout, index finger gout, long finger gout, ring and little finger gout, middle finger gout, ankle gout, knee gout, and right thumb gout. The effective dates for these decisions were not earlier than the specified dates.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than August 28, 2025, for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support an earlier effective date due to the one-year period prior to the filing of his VA Form 8940.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, as his current conditions are not linked to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain with patellofemoral pain syndrome (claimed as left knee condition) and migraine headaches secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions.,Both conditions are found to be at least in equipoise, meaning there is a reasonable doubt that they are related to the service-connected conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain (back disability), and obstructive sleep apnea. The evidence shows current diagnoses of these conditions and that symptoms started during service and have continued since service separation.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to April 17, 2019, for the grants of service connection for right knee instability, right knee tendonitis, and right femur fracture are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee instability associated with degenerative arthritis is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of motion associated with tendonitis with degenerative arthritis is denied.