Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his conditions are related to his military service and prevent him from obtaining and maintaining employment.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine is granted at 40 percent. Increased ratings are granted for patellofemoral tenosynovitis, right knee and left knee.

The Veteran's right knee instability is granted with a separate 10% rating prior to February 11, 2009.,A 10% rating for loss of motion in the right knee was denied prior to February 11, 2009.,A 30% rating for residuals of partial right knee replacement is denied beginning on February 11, 2010.,A 10% rating for instability in the right knee is granted starting from August 28, 2018.,TDIU based upon service-connected disabilities was granted effective January 24, 2022.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a left knee disability to ensure that VA complies with its duty to assist by obtaining outstanding treatment records and complete service treatment records.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right knee osteoarthritis and a separate 20 percent rating for right knee instability from July 7, 2017 to December 5, 2019, but denied ratings in excess of the assigned levels.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip degenerative joint disease/degenerative arthritis, left hip degenerative joint disease/degenerative arthritis, left knee mild degenerative joint disease, and skin rash on the right lower extremity have been denied as not new and material.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequate medical examinations. Another examination is needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's left knee, lumbar spine, and associated radiculopathy.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant records and conducting necessary examinations. The Veteran is required to provide additional medical evidence, including SSA disability benefits records, and undergo VA examinations for his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip arthritis, as well as neck arthritis, are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty for training or inactive duty for training in both the Indiana National Guard and Army Reserves, obtain VA examinations for degenerative arthritis and neck conditions, and provide a medical opinion regarding the onset and relationship of these conditions to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that his current disabilities are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck condition, right knee condition, and left hip condition were dismissed because the appeals were untimely filed.,The Veteran did not timely file a notice of disagreement or VA Form 10182, and good cause was not shown to extend the time limit.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the failure to appear at scheduled VA examinations. The RO is instructed to obtain a medical opinion assessing the severity of these conditions based on the evidence available.

The Veteran's stress fracture right tibia is granted a 10 percent rating, but no higher. The Veteran's hallux rigidus of the right foot and left knee patellar tendinitis are each rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's right knee patellar tendinitis is also rated at 10 percent. Tinea versicolor with tinea cruris, tinea pedis and onychomycosis does not warrant a higher rating. Tinnitus has been assigned the maximum schedular rating throughout the appeal period. Allergic rhinitis is rated as noncompensable.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee condition and herniated discs, finding insufficient evidence to support these claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the cause of death and DIC claim. The AOJ is required to obtain new VA medical opinions addressing whether service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death, as well as any negligence in reducing his pain medication.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective February 13, 2017. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee condition, GERD, left hip condition, migraines, left lower extremity neuropathy, and squamous cell carcinoma on the skull, upper lip, and left great toe, as these conditions are not found to be related to his conceded in-service exposure to jet engine exhaust, fuels, oils, and solvents.

The appeal of the proposed reduction of evaluation for insomnia disorder from 50% to 30% is dismissed. The claim for an increased rating for right knee strain is denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the Board finds it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board notes that there are no compensable limitations of motion or instability present to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for erectile dysfunction has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rate of special monthly compensation based on loss of use of creative organ has been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.