Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine condition is not related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied her claim for service connection. The gastrointestinal, upper respiratory, knee, hip, and foot disabilities are remanded due to inadequate examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) and DJD with instability and excision of menisci are being remanded due to the failure to provide a VA examination during the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, bilateral foot, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that he did not file a claim or intent to file a claim prior to May 10, 2022.

Service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease, and left shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis has been granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's left and right knee replacements, as well as any diagnosed right shoulder disability. The other issues remain denied due to lack of service connection.

The Board dismissed the service connection claims for depression, anxiety, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, kidney condition, osteoarthritis, and right knee condition due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these issues during his hearing. The claim for hypertension was granted with a PACT Act presumption.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a fungal condition, right knee cyst/benign growth, left knee soft tissue sarcoma, and bilateral knee strains are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records and address procedural errors.,Service connection will be considered based on direct evidence of a current disability and a link between that disability and an in-service injury or event.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities, not a single disability, prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's tinnitus is denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or continuity of symptoms from service.,Service connection for osteoarthritis, right knee, is denied due to lack of in-service injury and insufficient medical evidence linking the condition to service.,The appeal for service connection for osteoarthritis, left knee, was withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 100% prior to June 23, 2021. SMC based on housebound status is granted due to the combination of his 100% service-connected unspecified depressive disorder and other disabilities rated at least 60%. TDIU is dismissed as moot with the grant of a 100% disability rating for unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU for the period beginning on September 1, 2020. The claim for a TDIU prior to September 1, 2020 was dismissed as moot.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for VR&E services, including independent living assistance, was not properly considered due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case is being remanded to provide the necessary assessments and determine eligibility for such services.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to incomplete STRs and the need for additional examinations. The issues of gout, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, OSA, multiple painful joints, upper and lower back disorders, and bilateral hearing loss are all being addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right and left knee conditions, necessitate regular aid and attendance due to her inability to dress, groom, or tend to her daily needs. The Board has granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus has been denied. The claims for service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's bilateral knees developed significant damage and loss of function due to sepsis and osteomyelitis caused by a urinary tract infection that spread from his TURP procedure. The Board found fault with the VA care provided, leading to an award of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee instability disabilities have been granted effective from September 9, 2014. His psychiatric disability has also been granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for left knee strain is denied as his symptoms do not more nearly approximate unfavorable ankylosis in flexion between 10 and 20 degrees or worse.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for the left fifth finger scar is denied as the evidence does not show that the disability warrants such a rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, lumbar-spine degenerative disc disease and history of lumbar fusion, right-lower-extremity neuropathy, left-lower-extremity neuropathy, right-knee meniscal tear (claimed as bilateral knee condition), left-knee meniscal tear and degenerative arthritis, and bilateral foot pain with gait abnormality for further examination to determine if these conditions are secondary to his service-connected skin pathology of bilateral feet.