Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II has been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as the benefit sought (service connection) has already been granted.,An increased rating of 20 percent for left knee strain with instability from August 17, 2021, is granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating remains pending.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee strain with limitation of flexion has been denied.

The Veteran's right knee incomplete ligament tear and strain with degenerative arthritis post ACL reconstruction are currently rated at 10 percent each, which is the maximum rating available under VA regulations.,The Veteran's left knee strain and lumbosacral strain are also rated at 10 percent each.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding direct and secondary service connection for left knee strain. The Veteran's claim is being returned to obtain further clarification on whether his condition is related to active service or aggravated by his service-connected left foot achilles tendonitis.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and cannabis use was granted an initial evaluation of 70 percent. Other service connection claims were denied or remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension was not related to his service, as it first manifested many years after separation from active duty.,Right foot pes planus and left foot pes planus were not diagnosed or treated during the Veteran's service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 11, 2023, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter, for degenerative arthritis of the spine and intervertebral disc syndrome - lumbar spine associated with left knee strain has been dismissed due to a withdrawal request.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service-connected. The claims for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression), and left knee sprain are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae were denied as the evidence did not show that his conditions warranted a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for his left knee degenerative arthritis was denied. The Board found that the current 10 percent rating adequately accounts for the Veteran's symptoms, including pain and difficulty with impact activities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back disability, foot disability (drop foot), hand disability (numbness in the hand), neck disability, right knee disability, diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus have been denied. The Board has remanded the claims of eye disability and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for left knee strain with shin splint was dismissed because the request for higher-level review had not been completed and a final adjudication had not been issued.

The Veteran's low back strain disability is granted an increased rating of 20 percent, but no greater. The adjustment disorder with depressed mood due to joint pain of the low back strain, bilateral knees, bilateral shoulders, and left ankle strain is granted a 50 percent initial rating, but no greater.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, frostbite of the left foot and toes, insomnia (claimed as sleep disorder), laceration of chin with resulting scar, left degenerative hip, right degenerative hip, chronic left knee disability, chronic right knee disability, and low back pain. The Board found no evidence of a causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy has been remanded.,The Veteran's appeal regarding an initial evaluation in excess of 40 percent for right lower extremity radiculopathy has been remanded.,The Veteran's appeals regarding the effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and Dependents' Educational Assistance have been remanded.,The Veteran's appeal regarding restoration of special monthly compensation for the loss of use, deafness of both ears, has been remanded.

The Veteran's scar, post right inguinal hernia surgical repair is granted a 20 percent rating.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a skin condition (chloracne and/or dermatitis) as secondary to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for acute renal failure (kidney condition) as due to an enlarged prostate and/or herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis as due to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for total right knee replacement, to include as due to rheumatoid arthritis and/or herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for depression with sleep disturbance, to include as secondary to rheumatoid arthritis is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, depressive disorder, is granted as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.,An effective date of August 28, 2010 for a 30 percent rating for right knee disability (including instability, surgical scarring, and limitation of flexion) is granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for hypertension was granted, as new and material evidence has been received. The condition is now claimed as secondary to kidney, colon, and/or prostate cancer.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for erectile dysfunction was granted, as new and material evidence has been received. The condition is now claimed as secondary to kidney, colon, and/or prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development and readjudication due to a failure to comply with an October 2019 Board decision regarding transfer of paper records into VBMS.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a need for additional development, specifically regarding functional impairment of earning capacity.