Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left leg stress fracture residuals are currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied a higher rating due to flexion limited to no less than 40 degrees.,The Veteran's right leg stress fracture residuals are currently rated at 10 percent, but the February 2021 VA examination is inadequate for determining whether a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's right knee brace caused wear and tear on her clothing, leading to a clothing allowance for the year 2020.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU rating from January 19, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for ratings in excess of the currently assigned 10 percent ratings for her service connected right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndromes are denied. The appeal for service connection for cervical strain and right and left leg radiculopathy is remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability including osteoarthritis and joint replacement, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury during basic training.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of evidence from his active-duty service period.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee strain, finding that these conditions are causally related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, cervicothoracic spine pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, right ankle pain, right shoulder impingement syndrome, TMJ disorder, and unspecified trauma- and stressor-related disorder. The evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for left knee strain, finding that it is caused by his service-connected right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than January 23, 2009 for the grant of a separate rating for limitation of flexion of the right knee, and for initial ratings in excess of 10 percent for limitation of flexion, dislocated semilunar cartilage, and instability of the right knee are denied.,The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for a right knee scar is denied.

The Veteran's back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated based on their current severity.,The Veteran's patellofemoral syndrome knee conditions have not resulted in a rating higher than the assigned.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70% disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder was denied.,The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of left and right knee strain (limitation of extension) were also denied.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for right shoulder and right knee disabilities as secondary to pre-existing conditions. The claims are being remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's tinnitus, IBS, left leg disability, right leg disability, macular degeneration, and psychiatric disorder are all denied as there is no evidence of their onset in service or a link to the Veteran's period of service.,There is insufficient information provided regarding exposure basis, service connection theory, and whether the Veteran was exposed to any presumptive conditions like Agent Orange. The decision does not specify if the Veteran was exposed to any such conditions.,The rating assigned and effective date are both missing from this decision.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and remanded the issues of service connection for left knee condition and right knee condition due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee osteoarthritis and acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to clarify his diagnoses and determine if they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support the grant of these benefits.,An initial rating of 20 percent disabling, but no higher, has been granted for left knee instability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, and allergic rhinitis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.,No effective date is provided as the appeal pertains to increased rating claims.