Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide a retrospective VA medical opinion regarding the severity of his right knee disability at the time of the May 2015 VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee degenerative arthritis, left knee degenerative arthritis, and left ankle osteoarthritis. The claim for a right ankle disorder was denied. Service connection for hypertension is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for right knee limitation of flexion and patellofemoral pain syndrome were denied as they are not earlier than August 28, 2017.,Both conditions were first ascertainable prior to the Veteran's notice of intent to file a claim dated August 28, 2017.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as moot because the Veteran was already receiving the correct compensation rate for his service-connected knee strains.

The Board has determined that further evaluations are needed for the Veteran's thoracolumbar spine, knee, and wrist disabilities due to unclear functional loss in motion reports.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and right foot disabilities due to a lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for eligibility based on physical loss of use of hands/feet, permanent impairment of vision in both eyes, or ankylosis of knees/hips.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate statement of reasons and failure to address the Veteran's argument regarding medication effects on his knee disability. The case is being remanded for compliance with the Court's order, including obtaining medical opinions that consider the ameliorative effects of medication.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hand disability due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or were related to her active military service.

The Veteran's left knee condition resulted in a disability rating of 60 percent, and his heart condition was rated at 100 percent disabling.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death. The claims for service connection have not been decided.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 17, 2012 for the Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits. The effective dates are based on the Veteran's last reported work in February 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee disability, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension due to the submission of new evidence that supports a link between these conditions and the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain an adequate VA examination regarding the Veteran's contentions that his right knee service-connected disability resulted in abnormal gait, overcompensation, and strain on his left knee resulting in a left knee disability.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities and obesity. His left knee disability remains at a 20% rating, while his right ankle disability does not warrant an increase.

The Veteran's right below knee amputation was granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151, but his claim for right foot pain (callous) was denied as it did not result in an additional disability.

The Board has denied earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, right hip strain (limitation of extension), and right hip strain (limitation of flexion). The claims for low back disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and migraine-headaches are also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability, which existed prior to service and was a result of an ACL tear in 2010, did not worsen during service. Therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability and left knee disability on a direct basis, finding that there is at least an even balance of evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining her Social Security Administration records and providing a medical opinion regarding the loss of use of her right foot.