Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection of left foot plantar fasciitis, right foot plantar fasciitis and right knee condition as secondary to adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression due to a lack of an addendum medical opinion addressing whether obesity served as an intermediate step between the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder and his diagnosed conditions.

The Board has restored the Veteran's previously assigned 10 percent rating for left knee limitation of flexion with pain and post-traumatic arthritis, as improvement in his ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work was not established.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee patella ligament tendonitis resulted in painful bilateral knee motion, which did not meet or approximate the criteria for ratings in excess of 10 percent at any time during the period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluations and earlier effective dates for her service-connected total right-knee replacement and total left-knee replacement, finding that the evidence did not support an earlier effective date or higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee pain has been denied.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's left knee claim is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence. The Veteran's migraine headaches claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for left knee and left ankle disabilities was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating higher than 10 percent for left knee limitation of motion on extension or flexion, but granted a rating not to exceed 20 percent for left ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip, knee, ankle, heel, and toe disorders that are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot pes planus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a headache disorder is denied as there is no competent or credible evidence to suggest that any validly diagnosed headache disorder is etiologically related to his in-service service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and pinky finger disorders are all denied as there is no competent or credible evidence to suggest that any validly diagnosed right hand disorders are etiologically related to his in-service service.

The Board has granted the appellant's request for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services provided on January 11, 2021, due to an emergency situation related to a service-connected right knee disability. The VA facilities were not feasibly available and using them beforehand would have been unreasonable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (PFB) was dismissed as the AOJ had already granted it in a September 2024 rating decision. The claims for flat feet, prediabetes, dehydration, acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, right toe disability, disability associated with painful urination, and erectile dysfunction were denied due to lack of evidence showing their onset during service or being related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder, finding that his current condition did not originate in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various joint disabilities, including neck, bilateral finger, knee, foot, and elbow disabilities. The Veteran's claim is based on direct evidence rather than a presumption or secondary to another condition.

The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions have been granted increased ratings, with the left and right knees each receiving a separate 10 percent rating. The claim for service connection for a lumbar spine condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The claims for brain damage, breast disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability are currently pending and need further examination to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various types of chronic pain syndrome were denied, and the effective date was not granted earlier than May 2, 2022.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis due to outstanding private treatment records and a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran is seeking initial compensable ratings for left ear hearing loss, which are denied.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected right wrist, left knee, and foot disabilities.

The Veteran's gastric ulcer with erosive gastroduodenitis is granted an initial 20 percent rating.,Other service connection claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding records and duty to assist omissions.