Knee Board decisions

The Veteran was granted an earlier effective date of October 29, 2018 for his right knee strain.,An earlier effective date of June 16, 2016 was granted for the Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip strain and right knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA examinations. The Veteran must be provided with new VA medical opinions that consider his lay statements about the onset of his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations of their right total knee arthroplasty and right knee surgical scar have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine is granted, and he receives an initial disability rating of 60 percent for GERD. Other conditions receive increased or separate ratings.

An effective date of March 31, 2011, for a 10 percent rating for right and left knee instability is granted.,A TDIU is granted based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, left foot condition, right foot condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition as the evidence did not support a nexus to service.,VA also denied entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being housebound due to lack of service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for chronic fatigue syndrome, joint pain of the lower back, right wrist, left wrist, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder. The Veteran's Raynaud's syndrome, Scleroderma disease, and Sjogren's disease are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been secured for the Veteran's right and left knee conditions, warranting reconsideration of their service connection claims. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of this decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee and shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral knee pain is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with chondromalacia patella, finding that it was caused by his military service.

The Veteran's right and left knee replacement residuals are rated at 60 percent, which is the maximum rating available under current VA regulations.,The Veteran's calluses on his feet have been rated as noncompensable (10 percent) under Diagnostic Code 7806. The Board finds that a higher rating may be warranted if evaluated under Diagnostic Code 5284.

The Veteran's left and right foot calcaneal spurs, as well as the residuals of her left and right leg tibial fractures, have been granted increased ratings to 30 percent each. The effective date is February 5, 2019.

The Veteran's right knee instability is rated at 20 percent effective April 1, 2020. The rating for limitation of extension remains noncompensable.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee strain was denied in January 2010. The Veteran filed a supplemental claim on June 30, 2021, which resulted in the grant of service connection effective from that date. As the supplemental claim was filed more than one year after the intent to file and did not include an incomplete form, an earlier effective date is denied.

The Board has already adjudicated the issue of service connection for a right knee disability and dismissed the appeal as moot.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral ankle pain, bilateral knee pain, bilateral shoulder pain, bilateral hip pain, neck disability pain, and neuropsychological signs or symptoms due to an undiagnosed illness.