Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was restored to a 40 percent rating effective June 1, 2020.,Restoration of the 10 percent rating for right knee patella-femoral ligament instability and left knee patella-femoral ligament instability was granted effective June 1, 2020.

The Board denied service connection for plantar fasciitis of the left foot, patellofemoral pain syndrome (claimed as left knee pain), bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.,Service records did not show any complaints or treatment related to these conditions during or immediately after service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back and knee conditions and psychiatric disorder, prevent him from securing or maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of at least 70 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total disability rating based on surgical treatment necessitating convalescence is granted, as the surgery was performed to treat his service-connected right tibia and required at least one month of recovery.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions due to inadequate VA examinations and medical opinions. The issues include right knee disorder, left knee disorder, left foot disorder (also claimed as left Achilles), lumbar spine disorder, inguinal hernia, bilateral lower radiculopathy, and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, lumbosacral spine, left leg, and left hip disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The issues related to service connection and rating increases are not addressed as they pertain to a deceased Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee strain and right knee strain, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and active duty service.

The Veteran's right knee complex tear of the lateral meniscus is related to her July 1998 fall from the tail of a C-130 aircraft. Service connection for this condition is granted. The Board also remanded cases involving left knee, right foot, left foot, and left shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's claim for a left knee condition is dismissed as the notice of disagreement was not timely filed.,Tinnitus has been granted service connection based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 13, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for residuals of left total knee replacement from February 1, 2024 is denied as the evidence does not show chronic severe painful motion or weakness in the left lower extremity.

The Board has determined that a new and relevant evidence was received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The Board is now remanding the case for further development, including obtaining an adequate VA examination.

The Board has determined that the VA scars examination obtained in June 2023 did not fully assess the Veteran's service-connected bilateral knee and bilateral great toe scars. Therefore, these claims are being remanded to provide a comprehensive VA scars examination.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of bilateral knee condition, back disability, headaches, and acquired psychiatric condition are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The appeals of entitlement to service connection for various shoulder, cervical spine, ankle, knee, hip, and thoracic spine disabilities have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims during a hearing. The right ear disability appeal is also dismissed.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals of service connection for neck disability, back disability, right knee fracture, and right thigh fracture as they were already pending in the legacy system.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right knee pain and scars has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied across multiple conditions, including IBS, left shoulder disability, knee disabilities, and varicose veins. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The effective date of the TDIU award is set at May 28, 2014, as this was the date VA received her formal application.