Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and right knee condition are related to service. However, due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners regarding these conditions, the cases have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran is granted a fourth clothing allowance for the benefit year 2022 due to his use of Canadian crutches, which tend to wear out or tear his shirts. The amendment in December 2022 applies to this claim.

The Board is unable to adjudicate the earlier effective dates for service connection as they were not addressed in the June 2022 rating decision. The case must be remanded for development and adjudication of these issues.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for his bilateral knee braces in the calendar year 2022 is being remanded due to inadequate notice and lack of evidence regarding the use of his knee braces.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee strain, and right knee strain due to pre-existing duty to assist errors. The VA clinician is requested to provide opinions regarding direct and secondary service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including lower back condition with back pain/arthritis, shin splints with pain, TBI, bilateral knee conditions, bilateral ankle conditions, bilateral shoulder/arm conditions, bilateral wrist conditions, and bilateral elbow conditions, are not service-connected.,The VA examiners found no evidence of a nexus between the Veteran's claimed disabilities and his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed all issues related to service connection for peptic ulcer disease, bilateral knee condition, and bilateral hand condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, left knee strain, and back injury due to missed VA examinations. The Veteran is required to appear for a VA examination to determine if his current conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and a 20 percent evaluation for left knee strain, patellofemoral pain syndrome with limitation of flexion is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and a 20 percent evaluation for left knee strain, patellofemoral pain syndrome with limitation of extension is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and a 20 percent evaluation for right knee strain, patellofemoral pain syndrome with limitation of extension is denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection and a 20 percent evaluation for right knee strain, patellofemoral pain syndrome with limitation of flexion is denied.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining private treatment records and VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for entitlement to individual unemployability from November 1, 2018. The Board finds that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

Effective dates of June 20, 2020, but not earlier, have been granted for the awards of various disability ratings due to osteoarthritis and chronic kidney disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, right foot condition, and stomach issues were denied in April 2019 and October 2019. The claim was dismissed as moot because the AOJ accepted the October 11, 2021, supplemental claim but did not grant any of the requested benefits.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids are granted a 20 percent rating, and his right knee condition is granted service connection. The highest schedular rating for the hemorrhoids is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his DDD of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. His right knee condition, including limitation of motion and symptomatic cartilage removal, is rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The left and right knee conditions were remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for his right knee replacement was dismissed due to the withdrawal by his representative.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee disorder was dismissed because he did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement within the one-year period following the denial of his claim.

The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as right ear hearing loss and tinnitus are denied due to lack of current disability. The Veteran's IBS with abdominal adhesions is currently rated at the maximum allowable under the applicable diagnostic code.,For her service-connected appendectomy scar, a VA examination is needed to determine the number and nature of scars related to her appendectomy.