Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disorders, including lumbar spine DJD and bilateral knee DJD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since May 12, 2006. Effective dates for TDIU and DEA are granted as of that date.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of March 1, 2006 for the award of a separate rating of 10 percent for left knee instability.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee injuries do not qualify for a higher rate of educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33 due to the discharge being from the U.S. Army Reserve, not 30 continuous days of creditable active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision concludes that the Veteran's sleep apnea is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and musculoskeletal conditions.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease and erectile dysfunction are found to be proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected complex regional pain syndrome, residuals of fractured right wrist.,The Veteran's multilevel cervical spondyloarthropathy is not found to be secondary to his service-connected condition. The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis is not found to be related to his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a procedural error in determining the effective date for TDIU. The Veteran's income from July 28, 2021, to July 29, 2022, needs to be verified by Social Security Administration.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee instability due to an inadequate medical opinion and a need for further examination.

The Board has denied a higher rating for peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity and remanded the cases of arthritis, left hip, lumbosacral strain, degenerative joint disease, right knee, and right ankle strain.

The Board denied service connection for lumbosacral spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing current disability or functional impairment caused by these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for prostate gland disability, hypothyroidism, right knee disabilities, and an acquired psychiatric disability. The claims for these conditions are being remanded due to procedural errors in the development process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cervical strain has been dismissed, and the claim for bilateral knee condition is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder condition, lower (lumbar spine) back pain/condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of hypertension, right inguinal hernia and residuals, lower (lumbar spine) back pain/condition, left knee condition, and right knee condition do not have a direct relationship to his active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions in her prior claim. The claims are being returned for further development and consideration.

The appeals for service connection for stroke, left eye condition, and right knee condition have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders may be related to service, but additional evidence is needed to substantiate these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left chondromalacia of the patella (left knee disability) and chronic mechanical spine syndrome (low back disability). The appeal is remanded for further consideration of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's torn lateral meniscus, degenerative joint disease, chondromalacia, and right knee status post ACL tear and osteotomy have been rated at 10 percent since January 31, 2011. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to limited flexion of the knee.

The Veteran's initial ratings for cervical spine degenerative disc disease, left knee degenerative arthritis, and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied. The Board also found that the Veteran did not meet criteria for a separate rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy due to inadequate examination findings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis is at least as likely as not caused by an injury in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee arthritis is causally linked to his in-service football injuries, and thus grants service connection for a right knee condition.