Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left elbow, left knee, and low heart rate disabilities due to insufficient evidence of a current disability related to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for insomnia was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,Service connection was granted for a right foot disability, separate from his service-connected triple arthrodesis. The Board found an additional right foot disability related to service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for chronic bilateral knee strain or bilateral hip disability, and there was insufficient evidence to grant service connection for neurological disabilities of the lower extremities, hypertension, endocrine disability, or unspecified muscle disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various foot and hip disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability. The appeal for service connection for athlete's foot was withdrawn by the Veteran at his hearing.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is granted as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability. His left knee disability, characterized by limitation of flexion, is granted a 40 percent rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence linking any service-connected condition to his suicide.

The Board has denied service connection for fibromyalgia, low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee tendonitis and lumbar spine arthritis are being remanded for further examination to determine the severity of his disabilities during flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his right knee condition was dismissed because he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with obtaining VA Behavioral Health Autopsy Program (BHAP) records and obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death. The appellant contends that the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including hydrocodone prescribed for COPD, contributed to his suicide.

The Board has remanded the claims for a left knee condition, right knee condition, and neck condition due to errors in the decision-making process. The AOJ needs to consider all evidence submitted since August 2018 when the Veteran opted into the modernized system.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for DM has been dismissed.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 7, 2019 for the grant of service connection for left ear hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder, right hip, right knee, and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The appeal seeking service connection for right knee meniscal tear previously denied as arthritis of the right knee (now claimed as right knee condition) as secondary to left knee revision total knee arthroplasty is dismissed.

The appeals of the denial of service connection for tinnitus and cataracts are dismissed. The increased rating in excess of 30 percent for asthma is denied, while the issues of sleep apnea, left knee joint arthritis with painful motion (extension), and TDIU are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left ankle conditions, as well as a right knee disability secondary to those conditions. The remand requires obtaining an adequate VA medical opinion that reconciles conflicting evidence of record.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent for right knee chondromalacia, and the Board dismissed the issue as a matter of law.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and a compensable rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims will be remanded for new VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent prior to July 17, 2015, for service-connected PTSD is dismissed as the March 2021 rating decision implementing the February 2021 Board decision is considered final.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the issues regarding service connection for bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, and right knee disability due to the appellant's death.