Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is also established.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral joint arthritis have not been manifested by flexion limited to 30 degrees, thus the claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for lower back and left knee conditions due to outstanding military hospital records and a need for medical nexus opinions.

The Board has found that there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors and remands the issues of service connection for various ankle, knee, foot, and back disabilities. The AOJ must provide new VA examinations and obtain adequate medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it had its onset in service and is etiologically related to a right knee injury incurred during active-duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee limitation of extension and internal derangement are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Veteran's claims for higher evaluations for left lower extremity radiculopathy of sciatic nerve and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were denied as the evidence did not support ratings higher than 10 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the examination report and the need for a secondary opinion that considers all possible conditions as the cause of the claimed disability.

The Board has withdrawn the issues of entitlement to service connection for left and right foot disabilities due to a request from the Veteran. The appeal is now REMANDED for obtaining medical records from private providers.

The Board has found that the VA examinations and opinions are inadequate to adjudicate the claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, traumatic brain injury, left knee disability, right knee disability, and sleep apnea. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate your claims at this time.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II was denied as the evidence did not show that his diabetes required more than one daily insulin injection and a restricted diet. The Veteran also received a TDIU due to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for right knee strain and right shin splints were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain or a compensable rating for right shin splints.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected right knee, left knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee instability, patellofemoral pain syndrome, and tendonitis have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic kidney disease and gout of the left elbow, bilateral knees, and bilateral feet as secondary to the Veteran's chronic kidney disease.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the Veteran submitted multiple requests for review that created a concurrent election, which is not allowed under VA regulations.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, chronic fatigue syndrome, left knee disability, and erectile dysfunction as untimely.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee condition and instability prior to February 21, 2019 were denied as the evidence did not show a rating in excess of 10 percent under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and other claims were generally granted, with some issues being denied or having their ratings adjusted. The decision covers various conditions including RLS, PTSD with TBI, headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, herpes simplex virus, cervical spine DDD, tarsal tunnel syndrome, knee pain syndromes, and thumb sprain.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted for the period beginning May 1, 2020, as he has a combined disability rating of 100% due to service-connected disabilities and was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.