Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's arguments and secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and she meets the requirements for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate. The TDIU is granted based on the combined 100 percent rating of all service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative joint disease and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for left knee limitation of flexion from December 21, 1999, through November 30, 2023, is granted. A rating of more than 10 percent since December 1, 2023, for left knee limitation of flexion is denied. An initial 40 percent rating for left knee limitation of extension from December 21, 1999, through April 15, 2019, and since September 19, 2019, is granted. A rating of more than 40 percent from April 16, 2019, through September 18, 2019, for left knee limitation of extension is denied. An initial 20 percent rating for left knee instability since December 21, 1999, and an initial 20 percent rating for left knee locking and effusion since December 21, 1999, are granted.

The Board denied service connection for right ankle and right knee strain due to a lack of current disability and insufficient evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), right hip disorder, right knee disorder, and right ankle disorder due to insufficient evidence.,Service connection will be granted if there is a current disability, an in-service injury or disease, and a nexus between the two.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for right knee scars, finding that the evidence did not support an increase in his existing service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeals for reductions in disability ratings and increased evaluations have been dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing their appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain and torn ACL-left knee due to errors in verifying her periods of active duty training (ADT) and inactive duty training (IDT). The Veteran is asked to clarify whether she contends her back condition had onset during service or a period of ADT or IDT. A medical opinion will be obtained to determine the nature and likely cause of any back disability, including considering all relevant service treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for GERD and service connection for right knee strain are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in the August 2022 decision.

Your claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee condition has been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as your claim has now been fully resolved.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches and hemorrhoids have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran has continuously suffered from these conditions since his military service.,For the knee conditions, the Board denied service connection as there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease leading to current disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for right and left knee disorders due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with an examination.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis is being remanded for a VA medical opinion to address whether it was aggravated by his service-connected left femur angulated deformity and degenerative joint disease.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connection due to the evidence being at least in approximate balance that the Veteran's tinnitus began during military service and has been continuous since then.,Service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (left and right) is denied because there is no current diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome or any other disorder of the wrists resulting in functional impairment.,Service connection for bilateral ankle osteoarthritis (left and right) is remanded as VA examination was not provided to address the Veteran's lay reports of chronic ankle pain that began in service and has continued since then.,Service connection for left knee osteoarthritis is granted due to the evidence being at least in approximate balance that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis had onset during active service, manifested within one year of separation from active service (by December 1998), or was otherwise caused by his reports of chronic knee pain due to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and duty-to-assist errors. The issues include bullous disorder/hypertrophic keloid scars, left knee septic condition as secondary to bullous disorder/hypertrophic keloid scars, acquired psychiatric disorders, high blood pressure, arthritis of the lower extremities, degenerative disc disease of the low back, and jaw/speech impairment.

The Board has denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left hip disorder, and right hip disorder due to lack of current disability. The claims are REMANDED for additional development.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the Board has determined that they do not warrant a higher rating based on current evidence of record.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disability was also rated at 10 percent, with the Board finding no basis for an increased rating.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and increased ratings related to alcohol use disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, right knee pain, right shoulder pain, irritable bowel syndrome, hearing loss, and eczema.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left ankle pain, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, stimulant use, and cannabis use disorder), due to a failure to consider new evidence in the original decision.