Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevented him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's right knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they do not result in limitation of flexion to 30 degrees or less, or limitation of extension to 15 degrees or more. The current ratings are therefore denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) secondary to his service-connected left knee strain with degenerative changes, finding that ED is related to both the pain from his left knee and the medication he uses to treat it.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is rated at 30 percent, the maximum rating available under DC 5276.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating as his right ear corresponds to Level I and left ear to Level V on the VA audiometric tables. The highest rating available is zero percent.,The Veteran's right knee chondromalacia with arthritis is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 5260 for flexion limited to 115 degrees and extension limited to 115 degrees without ankylosis or instability.,The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia with arthritis is rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under DC 5260 for flexion limited to 115 degrees.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disorders due to the lack of current diagnoses related to these conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral shin splints was granted with an effective date of May 28, 2005.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right knee arthritis is secondary to his service-connected right foot degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's right knee disability did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, as his flexion was limited to 110 degrees and there were no findings of instability or other disabling effects. The current rating of 10 percent is maintained.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for tinnitus, migraines, and a left knee disorder due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's active duty service is conceded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to active duty service.,The Board has also remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as substance abuse - alcohol; left knee disorder; and right knee disorder.

The Veteran's left knee disabilities have been rated at 20 percent since February 10, 2014. The effective date for these ratings is the date of receipt of his claim.

The Board denied service connection for right knee condition, left knee condition, and sleep apnea as there was no competent and probative evidence of current disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right ankle disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's application for Legacy S-DVI insurance was denied because it was not received within two years of the most recent grant of service connection, which occurred in October 2018. The Veteran did not meet the eligibility criteria as per 38 U.S.C. § 1922(a).

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings in various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA medical opinion and incomplete work history provided by the AOJ.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for an initial increased rating for her right knee disability because it was a concurrent review and not allowed by regulations.

The Board has remanded the claims for athlete's foot, back disability, neck disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, bilateral foot disability, bilateral hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss. The claims of service connection for anemia, dermatitis, and right knee condition are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for MDD with anxious distress was denied. The appeal is REMANDED to obtain retrospective medical opinions regarding the severity of his left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities at the time of January 2019 VA examinations.