Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his ankle, knee, cold injury residuals, sciatica, TBI, and bilateral eye disorders. The RO will obtain any missing records from his service period in Germany and conduct further evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing left knee disability clearly and unmistakably existed prior to his service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for TDIU prior to August 28, 2013 and from August 28, 2013 and prior to November 26, 2019. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a schedular or extraschedular TDIU.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right foot pes planus, left knee strain, and right hip strain are all granted. The left knee and right hip strains are found to be secondary to the service-connected right foot disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection of various knee and ankle disabilities, as well as a left lower extremity sciatic nerve disability, require further examination to determine their etiology. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability alone has resulted in a TDIU effective November 1, 2011. Effective November 1, 2011, the Veteran also meets the criteria for DEA benefits and SMC based on housebound status due to his acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's right knee limitation of extension and headache disability ratings were reduced, but the Board found that these reductions were not proper due to lack of improvement in her ability to function under ordinary conditions. The ratings have been reinstated.

The Veteran's right knee disability and lumbar spine disability are found to have onset in service, warranting service connection.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral lower extremity neuropathic pain.

The Board denied service connection for a total left knee replacement, finding no evidence that the condition is related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's in-service knee trauma is the most likely cause of his current knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disability is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected right knee disability, granting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were granted, with effective dates ranging from December 4, 2018 to March 25, 2019. The right ankle sprain received a 20% rating, bilateral knee disabilities (right and left) each received a 20% rating, and hypertension was rated at 20%. Service connection for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder was granted effective from November 20, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU is granted, with May 1, 2012 assigned as the new effective date. This decision constitutes a complete grant of the benefits sought on appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations of his right knee patellofemoral arthralgia and left knee degenerative joint disease have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the Veteran's representative.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, hypertension (pursuant to the PACT Act), emphysema with endobronchial valve in left lung, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder condition with degenerative arthritis, a left shoulder condition with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral disability (lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease), and a left knee condition are granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims for emphysema with endobronchial valve in left lung, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder condition with degenerative arthritis, a left shoulder condition with degenerative arthritis, lumbosacral disability (lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc disease), and a left knee condition are remanded.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss. The Board granted service connection for left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been submitted to readjudicate the claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and right knee disability. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's right knee condition is rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of severe painful motion or weakness.,The Veteran's right ankle condition is rated at 20 percent, which also does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of severe painful motion or weakness.

The Board has found new and relevant evidence for the claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral knee disabilities. These issues are being remanded to allow for further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to address all theories of entitlement raised, specifically the theory of aggravation. The Veteran's low back disability is being requested to be reviewed by another examiner to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities.