Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional evidence was submitted since the April 2020 Statement of the Case and has not been waived by the Veteran. The claims for service connection are being remanded to allow the AOJ to consider this new evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sleep apnea due to new and material evidence. The Veteran's right knee disability and skin condition are denied as there is no current diagnosis or history of these conditions.,Service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability, depression, joint disease of the left knee, and obstructive lung disease remains denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's neck disability and her service-connected musculoskeletal disabilities. The VA must obtain complete treatment records from her National Guard/Reserve service and provide an addendum opinion on the etiology of her neck disability.

The Veteran has withdrawn all appealed issues from the legacy appeal system, and they are now dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate VA examinations and inextricably intertwined with other claims.

The Veteran's iliotibial band syndrome, right knee, with instability is restored to a 10% rating. The claim for left lower extremity neuropathy and bilateral pes planus is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during her military service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee disability were denied. The rating for limitation of motion prior to June 30, 2023 was denied as the flexion and extension did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 or 5261. From June 30, 2023, he received a separate disability rating for residuals of meniscal injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for epilepsy and traumatic brain injury have been withdrawn.,The Veteran's earlier effective date claims for major depressive disorder with generalized anxiety disorder and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been denied.,The Veteran's TDIU claim has been remanded.

The Veteran's left knee patellar femoral arthritis and right knee instability are granted service connection, with a separate rating for the right knee instability. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection of left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, bilateral pes planus, and tinnitus. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left knee arthritis, right knee soft tissue tear damage with repair, and right knee degenerative joint disease have been denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee and middle finger conditions, as well as low back and right lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims are still pending and will be remanded to further develop the evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed back, left knee, right knee, respiratory, and psychiatric disabilities. The appeals are not about service connection based on exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, or Gulf War Syndrome.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee strain, degenerative arthritis of the spine (lower back pain), and LLE radiculopathy due to inadequate VA examinations and missing medical records. The appellant will need a new examination to assess his current disability levels and determine if his conditions are secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's TBI residuals are restored to a 10 percent rating effective October 3, 2018. The Veteran is granted an initial 20 percent rating for erectile dysfunction and separate 10 percent ratings for limitation of flexion, extension, instability, and recurrent joint locking of the right knee. No other claims were resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for bilateral ankle condition, right hand disorder, and right knee disorder due to inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are currently denied.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's knee disabilities, including those for increased ratings and TDIU. The appeals remain in controversy as the AOJ did not grant the maximum available benefits.

The Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for disabilities of the right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine are dismissed.,An effective date earlier than December 1, 2017, for the award of service connection for residuals of a stroke is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation for any time period on appeal.