Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis have been reopened, with the Board finding that new evidence supports these claims. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to particulate matter during his deployment in Iraq.,Service connection has also been granted for allergic rhinitis and sinusitis under the presumptive provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.320(a)(1).

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate statements of reasons and bases, failure to provide a retrospective opinion addressing the nature and degree of the Veteran's right knee conditions, and failure to address whether a retrospective right knee examination was warranted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder disorder, sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, and knee disorders. The decision is based on insufficient evidence and the need for additional development such as obtaining medical opinions and treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left leg disorder and a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence showing such disorders were incurred in or related to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the effective dates for the granted benefits are not earlier than February 21, 2018.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee gout and left knee gout, but has remanded the claims for right ankle gout, left ankle gout, right foot gout, and left foot gout. The Veteran's current diagnoses of bilateral ankle and bilateral foot gout are related to his patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. Service connection for right and left elbow disorders, right and left knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and plantar fasciitis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and missed VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis, arthralgia of the upper left ankle joint, and a left knee disorder have been dismissed as they were not properly appealed to the Board.,These issues were previously denied in final rating decisions without appeal.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated medical records.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted from June 30, 2010. The SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) for the period beginning on December 16, 2015, but not earlier, is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities have been granted and/or increased ratings, with some issues denied. The most significant changes include a 10 percent rating for instability from August 29, 2017 through August 2, 2020; a 20 percent rating for cartilage impairment during the same period; and an initial 10 percent rating for painful (TKR) scars from August 3, 2020 to August 31, 2020.

The Board has denied service connection for various scarring conditions and knee, hip, ankle, and leg disorders due to the absence of a current disability. The Veteran's claims are remanded for further examination and consideration.

The Board has identified new evidence added to the claims file since the September 2020 Supplemental Statement of the Case and has ordered that it be reviewed by the AOJ before readjudicating your claims.

The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, as well as his back disability, were granted initial ratings of 10 percent. The Veteran's sciatic nerve radiculopathies and femoral nerve radiculopathies were denied higher initial ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of current hearing loss for VA purposes.,The right ear condition, hypoglycemia, and earlier effective date for hypertension claims have been withdrawn by the appellant (or his authorized representative).,The right arm/wrist condition was granted by a previous rating decision. The appeal for this issue is dismissed as moot.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for hypertension has been remanded due to lack of VA examination.,The claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left lower extremity radiculopathy, skin condition (claimed as dermatitis and/or eczema), left hip condition, right shoulder condition, and right hip condition are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee disability and polymyalgia due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's claim will be further evaluated with additional medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and readjudication due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and cervical spine disabilities, as well as a need for an examination to determine the current severity of his left inguinal hernia.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's MOS as a mechanic is cited as a potential factor.