Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's request for an extension of her delimiting date for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits due to service-connected knee disabilities was denied because the evidence did not clearly establish that she was prevented from initiating or completing her chosen program of education.

The appeal for attorney fees based on past-due benefits from a February 2023 rating decision is dismissed as the appellant was found eligible for such fees in a July 2023 Statement of the Case Fee Decision.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's right knee disability caused his left knee strain and osteoarthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of right knee strain and impairment of the right knee, finding that there was no evidence of a present disability prior to March 4, 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and lower back conditions due to a lack of VA examinations addressing their etiology.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities were granted a 10 percent rating for painful motion from February 12, 2022. The Board found that the evidence is neither evenly balanced nor approximately so regarding entitlement to an increased disability rating for left or right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of bilateral hip and knee disorders, as well as a left ankle disorder, require additional examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because the evidence did not establish that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable, despite meeting the schedular requirements for consideration of a TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, in combination, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and work history.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for DEA benefits, finding that basic eligibility to DEA was established from May 29, 2018 when the combined disability rating became permanent.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for a right knee condition due to insufficient evidence in the VA examination and opinion. The Veteran's lay statements regarding continuity of symptoms since service are not considered.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,The issues of entitlement to service connection for various conditions have been remanded.

The Board has found that the AOJ did not substantially comply with its previous instructions and remanded the claims again. The new opinions are also inadequate, as they do not adequately address the Veteran's lay statements about his symptoms in service.

The Veteran's knee disabilities have not been characterized by significant functional impairment, and the current ratings for her right and left knee conditions are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to his service-connected left knee and right ankle disabilities. The appeals are being returned for further development, including obtaining new VA examinations and addressing issues related to the effective dates of service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities, including those based on limitation of motion and total knee replacements (TKRs), were denied. The appeals are pending.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.,Issues related to headaches, hands, cervical spine, lumbar spine, right hip, right knee, and right ankle are all being reviewed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in April 2024, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right ankle sprain, left ankle sprain, bilateral foot disability, back disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a relationship to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition, finding that his current left knee strain is related to his combat service in Iraq.