Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, chronic low back strain, and a neck injury due to inadequate VA medical opinions addressing direct service connection and secondary service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for his left and right knee disabilities, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Board remands the claims for a disability rating higher than 40 percent and 50 percent for left knee DJD, as well as TDIU, due to an incomplete medical opinion.

The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disability and fibromyalgia, but granted TDIU due to the psychiatric disability. The left knee and thoracic spine issues were remanded.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for tinnitus and PTSD, but granted service connection for a left ankle disability manifesting as pain and an initial rating of 100 percent for PTSD from April 8, 2013.

The appeal concerning the issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for left knee arthritis is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The appeal to restore the rating for right knee strain with osteoarthritis and slight recurrent patellar dislocation was denied, while a separate 10 percent rating for right knee patellar subluxation from May 24, 2017, was granted. An initial rating in excess of 50 percent for headaches from April 7, 2016, was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for service-connected left knee painful scar and lateral aspect scar is denied. The case is remanded to schedule an examination for the Veteran's left elbow muscular weakness.

The Veteran's right knee disability included instability, and the Board granted an effective date of January 4, 2021, for a separate rating for right knee instability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs additional medical opinion regarding whether the right knee osteoarthritis is aggravated by the service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic sinusitis but has remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar and left knee disabilities, finding that they are at least as likely as not related to his active service.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to properly record the results of range of motion testing and relevant information regarding additional functional loss during flare-ups.

Your claim for a clothing allowance for your left knee brace has been granted and paid. The appeal is dismissed as the AOJ action constitutes a complete grant of the benefit sought.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for a clothing allowance for a left knee brace, which was granted in an earlier decision. The Board dismissed the appeal as it is no longer under consideration.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is denied. The earliest possible effective date is April 17, 2020.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for acne is denied. The earliest possible effective date is April 16, 2020.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability (other than left anterior cruciate ligament repair) and remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's complete service treatment records, including clinical records, need to be obtained. An opinion from an appropriate clinician is required regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities.

The Board denied increased ratings for right and left knee degenerative arthritis and instability, finding the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, finding no causal relationship to his in-service injury and that it is not secondary to his service-connected hallux valgus.