Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date of February 20, 2020, for service connection for left and right knee cartilage conditions was granted.,Effective from August 20, 2022, the Veteran is granted a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for a decision on service connection for right knee scar and low back condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral foot, knee, and lumbar spine disabilities due to new evidence received since previous denials. Further development is needed.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish service connection for cause of death and remands the case for further development.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection and increased ratings for various conditions, including diabetes, eye conditions, GERD, gout, hypothyroidism, neck disability, left shoulder disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss. The effective dates for the granted disabilities have also been dismissed.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been received as to the previously denied claims of service connection for left and right shoulder, back, right hip, and left and right knee disabilities. The case is being remanded for further readjudication by the RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle disability, left knee disability, hypertension, vertigo/loss of balance, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions or their relationship to military service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine, left hip, and right knee disabilities have been granted service connection as they are proximately caused by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee chondromalacia and obstructive sleep apnea, but denied service connection for left ear hearing loss.

The appeals for service connection and higher ratings for various conditions have been dismissed due to procedural defects, including concurrent elections of review options.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to incomplete information and the need for further examination. The AOJ will gather necessary employment history, Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits information, and a VA examination.

The Board has restored the Veteran's rating for tender scars, status post stimulator implant for left knee pain from 20 percent to 20 percent effective December 1, 2019.

The Veteran's neck disability, claimed as a secondary to his service-connected thoracic spine degenerative changes, has been granted.,The Veteran's right knee condition, also claimed as degenerative joint disease, has been granted.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the untimeliness and inapplicability of the Veteran's Notice of Disagreement with regard to a May 2016 rating decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee strain and bilateral hearing loss, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right knee disability and obstructive sleep apnea are service-connected as secondary to his service-connected left knee and other disabilities. However, the claim for service connection of left lower extremity neuropathy is remanded due to inadequate development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches/migraines, as they are related to his participation in a TERA (likely burn pit exposure) during active duty. The other claims remain under consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral pes planus and plantar fasciitis with degenerative arthritis, and bilateral knee disabilities, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation as of April 29, 2023. The Board finds that he is entitled to a TDIU due to the severity of his symptoms.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals related to his service connection claims for various conditions, including sinusitis allergies, bilateral ankle pain, bilateral knee pain, and heat sensitive low tolerance. The appeal is dismissed as a result.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, and right ankle disability due to lack of evidence showing these conditions began during or are related to active service.