Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee condition, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing condition was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's eligibility for enrollment in the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is remanded due to a lack of clinical evidence supporting his need for personal care services, supervision or instruction. The Board finds that the medical opinion upon which the denial was based is legally inadequate and requires further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied, as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable criteria. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is also denied due to lack of evidence supporting a higher rating based on audiometric results. Service connection for hypertension and bilateral foot fungus are granted with effective dates from May 19, 2020, to August 9, 2022, respectively. The Veteran's claims for service connection regarding left knee pain (status post arthroscopy), right knee pain (status post arthroscopy), low back disability (degenerative arthritis of the spine), left shoulder pain, and right shoulder pain are all granted with effective dates from August 10, 2022. The Veteran's claims for service connection regarding left leg shooting pain and radiculopathy secondary to low back disability and right leg shooting pain and radiculopathy secondary to low back disability remain pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a psychiatric condition and various musculoskeletal issues, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment during the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination addressing both causation and aggravation of the left knee disability by service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and right knee condition are granted service connection, but the acquired psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further development.

Service connection is granted for left knee degenerative arthritis and migraine headaches.,Service connection is denied for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's asthma is granted a 30% rating, effective October 4, 2019. The increased ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia patella are denied. A TDIU is granted.

The Veteran's shin splints, right leg and left leg are granted as they began during service.,The Veteran's lower back condition is granted as it was aggravated by his active service. His right knee and left knee conditions are also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability but has remanded the issue of service connection for her right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood, along with other service-connected disabilities, has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. Effective January 28, 2020, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on these conditions. Additionally, effective January 28, 2020, he is also granted SMC at the housebound rate due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left elbow condition, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain (claimed as back condition) due to lack of a current diagnosis. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for tinnitus is dismissed as moot because the Board granted it in a previous decision. The Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee injury is granted.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his low back and right knee disabilities has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis with instability was granted, with the effective date being June 1, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran exhibited slight instability in his left knee during the appeal period.

The Veteran's appeal seeking service connection for a back condition as secondary to left knee strain was dismissed due to the Veteran's representative withdrawing the appeal prior to hearing.

The Board has granted new and relevant evidence for the claims of service connection for migraine headache, right shoulder disability, and left knee disability. The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70%.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including a right foot disability, sleep disorder, cervical spine disability, left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability, left knee disability, and left foot disability. The claims are being remanded due to the need for further development.