Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for a left knee condition is denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as alcohol use disorder) is dismissed due to the grant of service connection in a previous decision. Claims for service connection for TBI, right knee condition, left hip condition, left leg paresthesia, and bilateral hearing loss are also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraine headaches has been granted due to the submission of new evidence that supports a finding of a current disability and a link between the condition and active duty service.,Service connection for a left knee disorder was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such a condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the untimely filing of VA Forms 10182, despite the Veteran claiming a pandemic-related excuse. The Board found no good cause for the delay and thus dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is denied as there is insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable by reason of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee conditions due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain Reserve service treatment records, provide a VA examination, and consider all relevant evidence in determining whether the Veteran's current knee disabilities are related to her military service.

The Veteran's bilateral shin splints have been granted service connection. The issues of sleep apnea, gastroenteritis and respiratory conditions are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to various pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors, including inadequate medical opinions and examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the onset and relationship of his claimed conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities as there was no new and relevant evidence presented to support the claims.

The Board has granted the reinstatement of the effective date for a 30 percent rating for a right knee disability to February 7, 2021. The Veteran's claim was continuously pursued and VA is responsible for determining whether the evidence supports the claim or is in relative equipoise.

The Veteran's left knee conditions, including osteoarthritis, partial knee arthroplasty, baker cyst, and degenerative arthritis of the left knee are secondary to his service-connected right total knee arthroplasty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and VA examinations.,Specifically, the Board finds that there may be missing service treatment records from his active duty service in Southwest Asia (SWA) during the Persian Gulf War. Additionally, Reserve and National Guard medical records need to be obtained as they could provide information about the onset of his current conditions.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending claims and appeals, including those related to various conditions and service connection issues. As a result, the Board dismissed these cases.

The Veteran's initial requests for higher ratings for his service-connected left and right knee disabilities were denied. He was granted a separate 10 percent rating for the removal of semilunar cartilage in both knees, but his request for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of December 25, 2003 for TDIU and basic eligibility for DEA benefits since that date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for her service-connected fracture right knee, tibial plateau and anterior fibula with painful motion was denied. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee was established but combined with the existing disability evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to incomplete VA examinations, lack of flare-up information, and other procedural issues. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions and ensure all necessary records are obtained.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings and a TDIU prior to July 13, 2015 have been dismissed as the Veteran requested withdrawal of all remaining issues in his Appeals Satisfaction Notice.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee disabilities and left hamstring tendonitis due to inadequate examination findings. The issues of TDIU are also deferred as inextricably intertwined with the remanded claims.