Knee Board decisions

The appeal for service connection for right knee strain with osteoarthritis, right knee condition and any left knee condition as secondary to right knee condition is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for mechanical back pain syndrome with bilateral radiculopathy as secondary to right knee condition is also dismissed. The appeal for service connection for left elbow condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various knee, hip, and ankle conditions as secondary to a service-connected left great toe fracture with degenerative arthritis. Additional medical opinions are needed to determine if these conditions were aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's service connected disabilities, including left knee instability, peripheral neuropathy of the sciatic nerves in both legs, and Other Specified Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder with secondary cannabis use, have been granted effective February 20, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, myelodysplastic syndrome, chronic kidney failure, right leg amputation, and various peripheral neuropathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since March 4, 2011. The effective date for TDIU is set at this date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to dress or undress herself and to keep herself clean without the personal assistance of another person, meeting the criteria for SMC at the rate prescribed in 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the 60% disability rating for total left knee replacement and the 40% disability rating for groin muscle injury, right, muscle group XIV are denied. The Board found that there was no evidence to support an earlier effective date than April 1, 2020 for the left knee replacement or August 17, 2020 for the groin muscle injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on housebound status was denied because he does not meet the criteria for such benefits, as his service-connected disabilities do not independently rate at 60% or more and he is not permanently confined to his dwelling due to these conditions.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of left knee and right knee degenerative joint disease due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for left and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence. The Board finds that a VA examination is necessary to determine if these conditions are related to active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee medial meniscus tear is rated at 10 percent, and the Board has denied an increased rating. The claims for service connection of a left wrist condition and low back condition are remanded due to inadequate examination findings.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance, including assistance with activities of daily living such as preparing meals, bathing, and dressing.

The Veteran's left knee strain with arthritis is rated at 10 percent, and her right knee instability is rated at 30 percent. The appeal for higher ratings has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the spine with IVDS, right knee disability, and left knee disability, do not meet or approximate the criteria for service connection as they are not shown to have begun during active duty or be related to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood disorder and left knee disability, with obesity being an intermediate step in its development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability manifested by pain, finding that there is approximately even evidence to support a nexus between the current condition and active service.

The Veteran's left knee condition, including insertional tendinitis of the iliotibial band and symptomatic plica, is rated at 10 percent effective November 27, 2020. The separate rating for patellar instability as a residual of these conditions remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's left shoulder strain, gastroenteritis, Crohn's disease, paroxysmal abdominal pain, and left knee disability manifested by pain are all granted as service-connected.,PTSD is also granted with an initial 100% rating from January 21, 2019.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as a back disorder. The Veteran's knee strains are not considered related to his service.,Service connection was also denied for a left leg disorder other than the knee strain, and a right leg disorder other than the knee strain and sciatica.

The Veteran's appeal was granted due to the VA not sending the SOC to the correct representative, which effectively deprived him of representation. The 60-day timeliness requirement for filing a substantive appeal is waived.