Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence received since the last rating decision. The claims will be reconsidered with additional medical records from non-VA providers.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for bilateral knee disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is July 26, 2023, which was the date of receipt of his Intent to File.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as his service-connected disabilities (anxiety disorder, right knee osteoarthritis, etc.) preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication of the appellant's claims for accrued benefits due to her testimony regarding good cause. The Veteran had pending service connection claims at the time of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's upper and low back disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral foot disability, and overall body pain are related to his active service. The claims are being remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for neck disability, back disability, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, right wrist disability, left wrist disability, left knee disability, depression, anxiety, stomach disability, and residuals of mefloquine toxicity due to a duty-to-assist error. The effective date claim for scar of the right breast is denied as there was no intent to file a claim prior to February 15, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for service-connected right knee strain and degenerative arthritis were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been dismissed.,Service connection for a right ankle disability, including as secondary to service-connected left knee and left ankle disabilities, was denied. The case is remanded for further evaluation of the left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is dismissed as the appeal has been granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, left hand condition, right hand condition, and muscle pain are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service. The claims for left knee strain, right knee strain, and left shoulder condition are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disabilities, finding that the evidence is at least in approximate balance as to whether these conditions began during active duty.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, finding that the current right knee condition is caused by his left knee disability.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the AOJ not requesting the Railroad Retirement Board's disability claims file, which could have provided important information about his employment status prior to November 1, 2024.

The January 17, 2013 rating decision denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The Board found that while the Veteran could not return to his previous employment as a plumber, he was capable of sedentary employment and therefore had not established clear and unmistakable error in denying his TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, and thus, service connection for this condition is denied.,For tinnitus, the Board found no evidence of chronicity in service or within one year after separation. The examiner opined that the appellant's tinnitus was not incurred during his service.

The Veteran's left knee condition and bilateral plantar fasciitis are related to his active duty service.,His psychiatric disorder is secondary to his now service-connected left knee condition.,His hypertension and sleep apnea are secondary to his service-connected disabilities, including tinnitus from his left knee condition.

The Board has found that there are gaps in the Veteran's service records and VA treatment records, which need to be verified and obtained. The claims for service connection on all issues related to knee disabilities, shoulder disabilities, foot disabilities, eye disability, and high blood pressure are being remanded due to these missing records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the Veteran's left knee disability. A VA examination is required to determine if the condition began during service or is otherwise related to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for TMJ, low back disability, and right knee disability due to duty-to-assist errors in obtaining necessary medical opinions and verifying periods of active duty.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple service-connected conditions have been dismissed as the appellant has withdrawn his appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left and right foot conditions, back condition, left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain. These conditions are considered to be directly related to his active military service.