Knee decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Veteran was gainfully employed during the period prior to January 4, 2012. Therefore, a TDIU for this period is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and right ankle disabilities, as well as a separate rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage in the left knee, were all denied by the Board. The Veteran was not granted any higher disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee condition. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right knee condition, including osteoarthritis and residuals of meniscus tear.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen claims for service connection of left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities was granted. The appeals for bilateral hip disabilities are also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not manifest within one year of separation and was not related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for residuals of a concussion (including migraine headaches and dizziness), concluding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection are remanded due to new evidence being added to the file, and the Veteran wants the RO to review this evidence first.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claims are now pending for further review.

The Veteran's right foot plantar fasciitis is granted as service-connected, and his left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and sleep disorder are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's service-connected knee and ankle disabilities have worsened since his last VA examination, necessitating new evaluations to determine appropriate disability ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disabilities, depression, and audiological disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to conflicting medical opinions and the need for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, as determined by VA examiners.

The Veteran's claim for arthritis of the right thumb was reopened and granted service connection. An initial rating of 20% is assigned for scars of the left ankle, left knee, and right wrist.,Service connection for depressive disorder is granted with an effective date of September 17, 2016.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted sufficient to reopen the claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including lower back, neck, bilateral knee, bilateral foot, left shoulder disabilities, CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and a sleep-related disorder. Entitlement to service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance for a left knee brace is denied as she does not have any service-connected right knee disability for which a brace is worn.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his bilateral shoulder disorder, low back disorder, bilateral hip disorder, and bilateral knee disorder are denied. The bilateral foot disorder was not addressed in the decision.

The appeals regarding service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted with an effective date of July 25, 2014. The decision also states that no earlier effective date is warranted.