Knee Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of various knee, hip, and elbow disorders as well as cold injury residuals (frostbite) of the right foot. The Board dismissed all issues in this appeal.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including back disorder, right and left lower extremity neurological disorders, right knee status post ACL tear repair disorder, right shoulder degenerative arthritis, and left shoulder degenerative arthritis. The evidence does not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no persuasive weight of the evidence showing current disabilities or a relationship between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss are granted service connection. The Veteran's right knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, alcohol use disorder, and intermittent explosive disorder) are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the service connection claims for left knee condition, right knee condition, and vertigo.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, radiculopathy of lower extremities, neck disability and associated radiculopathy, sleep apnea, and psychiatric disability due to incomplete information.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a total right knee replacement and for TDIU due to his service-connected residuals of a total right knee replacement. The AOJ is instructed to request completion of VA Form 21-8940 from the Veteran, review the additional evidence associated with the claims file since the issuance of the October 2020 SSOC, and readjudicate both claims.

The appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD).,The appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 1, 1998, for separate 10 percent ratings for left knee instability and symptomatic residuals post left knee meniscectomy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right and left knee strains, finding that his bilateral knee disabilities manifested with painful motion but without significant functional loss or instability.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence added since the January 2021 supplemental statement of the case, including a March 2024 VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injury, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for lichen planus and left knee disability due to incomplete records, including private treatment records from a VA dermatologist and non-VA orthopedist. The Veteran is also required to provide information about all medical providers who have treated him.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings on multiple service-connected disabilities has been dismissed due to withdrawal of claims by the Veteran and his attorney.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his service.,VA will obtain a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's GERD based on exposure to burn pits during service in Southwest Asia.,The Veteran's chronic fatigue and short-term memory impairment are remanded for a VA examination to determine their etiology, with consideration of possible overlap with his service-connected psychiatric disabilities and obstructive sleep apnea.,A VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's skin rash, given his participation in a TERA during service in Southwest Asia.,No specific rating or effective date information was provided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected conditions do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disability, a bilateral eye disability, left ear hearing loss, a head nodule, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities prior to August 10, 2022, were denied. The Veteran was granted service connection for these conditions based on direct evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for limitation of motion of the right knee prior to January 11, 2019 was denied. The Board found that during this period, the Veteran's range of motion did not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. The claims of increased evaluations for lumbar spine and right knee disabilities remain on appeal.