Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for cervical strain with degenerative arthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome of the left knee due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's rumination disorder, left knee scar, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been granted service connection. The right ring finger scar, acne scars, left eyebrow scar, right wrist scar, and right chest scar are denied as not related to service.,Service connection for eye conditions including pinguecula is also denied.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective August 15, 2014. The VA also awarded eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits effective the same date.,An earlier effective date of August 15, 2014, was granted for both the TDIU and DEA benefits due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal of a proposed reduction in disability rating for residuals of a right knee meniscectomy as it was not an appealable decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's December 16, 2019, Higher-Level Review (HLR) form was timely filed and accepted. As a result, the VA must now proceed with adjudicating his request for higher-level review regarding the reopening of his claims of service connection for anxiety disorder, hearing loss, right-knee condition, and PTSD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a throat condition, left and right shin splints, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, right knee disability, left knee disability, trochanteric pain syndrome of the right hip, and right foot pes planus. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.,The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's right knee replacement surgery required convalescence from May 1, 2020 through July 31, 2020. The Board granted an extension of a 100% disability rating for this period based on the evidence showing continued need for convalescence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will consider evidence from June 2016 onwards. The Veteran's right knee disorder is related to service, specifically his injury during active duty for training in September 2013.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and the issue of service connection for a right knee condition is not fully adjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's back disorder. The remaining issues have been denied as not related to service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for posttraumatic stress disorder and left knee disorder due to the death of the appellant during the appeal process.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various wrist and knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence linking these disabilities to his time in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his service-connected disabilities, including secondary service connection claims.

The appeal of the proposed reduction from 30 percent to 0 percent for service-connected allergic rhinitis is dismissed. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee bursitis, patella dislocation and degenerative arthritis (previously rated as right knee strain) is denied.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection of right knee condition and left knee condition. The claim for service connection of tendonitis is being remanded.,Service connection will be evaluated based on the merits, without considering any presumptive conditions or secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a 2020 clothing allowance for bilateral wrist and knee braces is remanded due to incomplete documentation and inadequate notice in the original decision.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability, granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The Veteran's left knee condition was not shown to be related to service due to lack of evidence within one year post-service. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be related to combat exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased disability ratings have been granted, with effective dates of April 24, 2018.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his failure to attend VA examinations and because of exposure to a chemical agent (CLP) during military service. The Veteran is also being examined for hypertension, low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, and right testicle epididymitis.

The Board has remanded both claims for the RO to provide a VA examination and obtain additional records. The Veteran's left shoulder disability claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence of a causal nexus between service and his current condition, while the right knee chondromalacia claim requires an updated VA examination in compliance with Correia v. McDonald.