Knee Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection claims related to left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, left knee strain, bilateral hearing loss, and low back injury.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to have begun during active service and has continued since then, granting service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various knee and back disabilities, as well as radiculopathy in the right lower extremity (RLE) and left lower extremity (LLE), have been granted. Service connection is also granted for a right hip disability secondary to his back disability.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted effective April 8, 2020. The Board found that VA failed to properly notify the Veteran of his intent to file a claim and thus the earlier date is valid.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, finding that the condition began during service and is not due to any in-service aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee condition, but denied his claim for a right knee condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for back, left knee, and right knee conditions due to inadequate medical opinions in prior examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his right knee disability is remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and consideration of medication effects.

The Veteran's knee disabilities became service-connected on February 8, 2011. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date due to the severity of his knee conditions making him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee scar secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability status post knee replacement. However, the rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent and needs to be re-adjudicated due to a failure to obtain private mental health treatment records.

The Board denied service connection for multiple disabilities, including neck, back, left foot, left knee, right knee, right foot, and right shoulder disabilities. The Board found insufficient evidence to support presumptive or secondary service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist tendinitis, right knee strain, and left ankle sprain based on the evidence showing that these conditions began during active service.,Service connection is established for all three conditions: right wrist tendinitis, right knee strain, and left ankle sprain.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding increased disability evaluations for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and left hand ring finger as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions that consider all relevant evidence of record, including the Veteran's lay statements.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate C&P examination, and a new medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his military service.

The appeal for service connection of left knee condition, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis is dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction over the August 2021 rating decision. Service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left ankle condition, left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, left wrist condition, right wrist condition, and left knee condition. The Veteran's sleep apnea is also found to be related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the claim of entitlement to service connection for right knee condition. The AOJ is therefore remanding this case.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to March 10, 2020 for service connection of left arm neuropathy with bicep atrophy and increased rating for left elbow small chip fracture with debridement of multiple fragment wounds were denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a right knee disability was remanded. The claims for an earlier effective date for 20% ratings for painful scars on the left elbow, right knee, and lower lip were also denied.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's determination of a regulatory bar to VA compensation benefits based on willful and persistent misconduct is incorrect due to recent amendments allowing for an evaluation of compelling circumstances, including mental and cognitive impairment as possible mitigating factors. The Board finds it necessary to remand these service connection claims for further development.