Knee Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the service connection claim for a skin condition. The claims for lumbar spine, left knee, left hip, and right hip disabilities have been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for cervical strain, lumbosacral strain, and right shoulder strain with sternal clavicular malunion. Service connection for right knee strain is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted his claim for Total Disability Rating Based on Unemployability (TDIU) effective from May 28, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral foot and knee conditions, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. He is also rendered helpless by his disabilities requiring regular in-home assistance.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining complete medical records and a PACT Act opinion is required.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis due to a lack of a VA examination and medical opinion. The Veteran's representative requested additional information about the VA examiner, but this does not affect the duty to assist at the Board level.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of clarity in the Veteran's initial Notice of Disagreement (NOD) and subsequent clarification, requiring the AOJ to issue an SOC.

The Veteran's neck condition, urinary incontinence, right knee condition, and GERD have all been granted service connection.,A rating for the lumbar spine disability has not been granted.

The Veteran's claims for a higher initial disability rating for left knee disability and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated examinations and clarification of the Veteran's range of motion during flare-ups, passive motion, and with repeated use over time.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disorders, a hernia, and scars due to inadequate etiology opinions in previous decisions. The claims need to be remanded for new VA examinations.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for various conditions and remanded them for further action.

The Veteran's left knee limitation of extension is granted at a 40% evaluation, effective from June 28, 2022. The Veteran's left knee instability remains at a 20% evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for bilateral hip and knee disorders due to a failure of the RO to obtain etiological VA examinations. The Veteran's statements at least meet the low bar required to trigger the provision of VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee disability, instability, and limitation of flexion have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran seeks a clothing allowance for his service-connected right knee disability. The AOJ denied the claim without obtaining relevant private treatment records, including those related to the hinged knee brace used in 2020. The Board finds that remand is necessary to obtain these records.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to October 25, 2020 is denied because he was already in receipt of a combined total schedular rating. After October 25, 2020, the Board finds that his remaining disabilities do not result in a combined 60 percent rating that would warrant special monthly compensation at the housebound rate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances due to a lack of clear and accurate descriptions of the braces used, as well as missing relevant documentation from VHA. The AOJ is required to obtain these records and reconstruct the record before making a decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected left knee strain with chondromalacia is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination reports. The Board requires a new examination to assess the severity and functional impact of the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left knee strain, lumbar spine intervertebral disk degeneration with arthritis, and sciatic radiculopathy have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since April 20, 2021. As a result, the Board has granted an effective date of April 20, 2021 for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for patellofemoral syndrome, left knee was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. Therefore, service connection is restored.