Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition, lower back condition, and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy due to new evidence submitted after the February 2020 SOC denial.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee, and left ankle.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, left ankle disability, tinnitus, left knee disability, and erectile dysfunction, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board granted the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has found that a new medical opinion is needed to address the Veteran's right knee disability, as the existing opinions do not adequately consider her service treatment records and lay contentions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure of VA to obtain potentially relevant VA treatment records from 1980 to September 1998, and for the AOJ to obtain a medical opinion regarding the issue of the entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues related to low back pain, contact dermatitis, migraine headaches, PTSD, sleep apnea, IBS, left ear hearing loss, bilateral knees, and bilateral shoulders as untimely.

The Veteran's claim for a 60 percent disability rating for the service-connected left below knee amputation with callosity stump is granted. The issues of service connection for a heart condition, entitlement to an earlier effective date for TDIU, and eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 are remanded.

The Board has restored service connection for the Veteran's right knee conditions due to aggravation during military service.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from August 1, 2018 to September 9, 2019 due to his service-connected disabilities making him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board has restored a 20 percent disability rating for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with instability, effective June 1, 2020. The reduction from 20 percent to 0 percent was improper due to inadequate medical evidence showing sustained and material improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to improper appeal form and lack of jurisdiction over the issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's back and knee disabilities are related to his military service. The VA is instructed to obtain an opinion on this matter.

The Veteran's request for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right arm tendinitis was denied. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities was granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for depression, anxiety, a back condition, and a left knee condition.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent rating for right knee instability, effective December 8, 2009. The case of service connection for a right ankle disability is remanded due to incomplete examination and missing records.

The Veteran's headache condition is granted a rating of 10 percent prior to October 5, 2019, and 30 percent thereafter. The right knee and left knee conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The claim to reopen a previously denied hip osteoarthritis was granted, but the new evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a right shoulder condition and has denied service connection for this condition. The cases related to left ankle strain, right ankle strain, right knee condition, and left knee condition are all remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for tinea cruris, tinea pedis, intertrigo with onychomycosis, right knee strain, and right ear hearing loss as these conditions have already been granted in a previous rating decision.,The appeal for left ear hearing loss is denied because there is no current disability meeting the VA compensation criteria.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of her medical records.,The Veteran's right little finger healed fracture disability is also being remanded for further examination and development.,Service connection for right foot synovitis due to Still's Disease, left wrist CTS, and a right knee disability are all being remanded. The Veteran claims these conditions were caused by exposure to environmental agents at FTMC or secondary to her service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, is also being remanded for further examination and development of her medical records.,Service connection for a right knee disability is being remanded due to conflicting evidence regarding when the Veteran's right knee problems started.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with MST, major depressive disorder, and anxiety, is being remanded. The Veteran claims these conditions were caused by in-service personal assault.