Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of relevant medical records, particularly from private providers. The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis will be reconsidered with these additional records.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including meniscal tear, ACL tear, and osteoarthritis, is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board found no basis for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's left knee chondromalacia may have prevented him from working during the review period, and his TDIU rating is inherent in any claim for an increased rating. The Board has remanded the issues due to lack of VA examination records and incomplete employment history.

The Veteran's left knee condition is granted as secondary to her service-connected right knee and low back conditions.,Service connection for left knee instability is denied due to lack of evidence of instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection related to heart condition/leaking valve, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea are denied. The claim for service connection for headaches prior to February 23, 2023, is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing secondary service connection.

The Board has found that the VA examinations provided to the Veteran were inadequate, specifically in not addressing his lay statements regarding symptoms experienced during service. As a result, these claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his employment and income.

The Board has determined that new evidence received since the April 2019 denial warrants readjudication of the claim for service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee. The Veteran's statements regarding the onset and continuity of symptoms are being considered in the remand process.

The Board has remanded the claims for appropriate disability ratings due to new evidence received after the November 2020 decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, thus the Board has granted entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, left knee disability, bilateral kidney disability, and skin disability.,There is no evidence of current disabilities in these conditions.

New evidence has been presented supporting the Veteran's claims for service connection of a psychiatric disorder, bilateral knee disorders, bilateral hip disorders, lumbar spine disorder.,The Board finds that new and relevant evidence has been submitted in support of these claims.

The Board has decided to remand all of the Veteran's claims, including those for higher ratings for his bladder condition, bilateral knee instability, and other conditions. The TDIU claim is also being remanded. Additional evidence will be considered, and new examinations may be required.

The Veteran's cervical spine, right knee, and left knee conditions are now considered service-connected as of August 22, 2019. The effective date for these benefits is set to this date.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a right knee disability, and the Board has dismissed the case.

The appeal for increased disability ratings for bilateral pes planus, tinnitus, left knee arthritis, and left knee instability is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her left knee sprain with patellofemoral syndrome and limitation of motion is denied. However, she is granted a separate 10 percent rating for the same condition based on slight instability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, but has remanded the claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disability is service-connected, but has remanded the right knee issue due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome, finding that it is related to active duty service.