Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and meniscal tear with symptomatic residuals are rated at 10 percent, while bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected.

Your appeal of the right knee disability issue has been dismissed due to an administrative error at the VA.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine disability, have been granted service connection. The lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent effective December 29, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability are remanded due to a failure to provide a VA examination addressing the theories of direct service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring further development of the record.

The Board has granted service connection for flat feet, left knee osteoarthritis, and right knee osteoarthritis on the basis that these conditions worsened during active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis and a TDIU prior to July 9, 2008 are being remanded due to procedural errors in the evidence considered by the AOJ. The AOJ is instructed to correct these errors and consider any relevant evidence not previously considered.

The Veteran's right lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a 20% disability rating, effective since April 11, 2016. The other issues were denied.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were granted effective August 29, 2007. The Board has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date due to a disagreement with the extraschedular determination.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for left shoulder degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative arthritis, and thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's right knee disability, specifically the posterior horn lateral meniscus tear with surgical repair, resulted in frequent pain and limited motion. The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for this condition prior to August 28, 2020, and maintained that rating thereafter.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability was evaluated at a 10 percent rating based on painful motion, and the evidence did not support a higher or separate rating for any other condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and rating issues, including anxiety with PTSD and depression, cervical spine disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, left knee disability, and a proposed reduction in the evaluation of low back pain.

The Board has decided that an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee limitation of flexion is denied, and a 10 percent rating for left knee limitation of extension is granted. The claim for service connection for a right knee condition (claimed as arthritis), to include as secondary to a service-connected flatfoot disability, is remanded due to errors in the AOJ's consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including obstructive sleep apnea and knee conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance for the period of time on appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and for a new opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee condition.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities have been rated based on their current manifestations, with the highest possible rating of 20 percent for instability in both knees. The ratings are denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee disability, including osteoarthritis, is at least as likely as not related to his active military service and granted his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of SMC housebound has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support housebound status prior to January 22, 2021, when the Veteran became entitled on a schedular basis due to his PTSD.