Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee strain and unspecified depressive disorder are granted as service-connected, with the latter being secondary to his now service-connected left knee strain.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is granted as service-connected, while the cervical, left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of flexion, and a separate 10 percent rating is granted for slight instability since May 5, 2021. The higher ratings are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for left and right foot disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, and kidney disability due to incomplete development of service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent disability rating for right knee degenerative arthritis with limitation of extension, finding that continuous pursuit of the issue was not established and that worsening of the condition did not occur within one year prior to receipt of the November 2020 VA Form 21-526EZ.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left knee arthritis and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the back and multiple hip, knee, ankle, and plantar fasciitis conditions, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted TDIU effective December 12, 2018.

The appeal regarding the timeliness of a May 2023 VA Form 10182 is dismissed because the Veteran's Motion for Extension of Time was granted, and the initial denial of service connection for left knee disability remains moot.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection for compensation purposes.,Service connection is denied for a sleep disability due to insufficient evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the other issues (low back condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and acquired psychiatric disorder) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.,For the low back condition, the Board finds that there is not enough evidence to establish a link between the condition and service. The examiner will be asked to provide an addendum opinion.

Service connection for a left knee disability is denied.,An effective date earlier than July 12, 2017 for service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy is denied.,The initial rating for the service-connected left lower extremity radiculopathy (sciatic nerve) higher than 10 percent is denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran asserts his chronic knee pain had onset during airborne training, which he believes is related to an in-service parachute injury.

Your appeal seeking service connection for your right knee iliotibial band syndrome and left knee degenerative arthritis has been dismissed as you submitted a supplemental claim while also filing an NOD, which is not allowed under the AMA.

Your appeal for service connection and increased ratings has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's lumbosacral strain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating.,The Veteran's left knee strain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating.,The Veteran's right knee strain is rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to his physical limitations and combined disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, cervical spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right leg disability, and left leg disability due to incomplete service treatment records. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further review with additional examinations.

The Board found that the VA correctly withheld compensation benefits to recoup military separation pay, and denied the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent, as there is no evidence of limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or extension to 15 degrees, instability requiring a brace or assistive device, or frequent episodes of 'locking', pain, and effusion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various foot, hip, and knee disabilities due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran should be provided with VA examinations to assess his claimed conditions.