Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's May 2019 VA Form 10182, which was improperly docketed under the AMA system, should be accepted as a timely Notice of Disagreement. The appeal will now proceed in the Legacy system where the Veteran can receive a Statement of the Case and have the opportunity to perfect his appeal by filing a VA Form 9 or opting into the AMA framework.

The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a left leg disability, previously claimed as weakness in bilateral legs is granted.,The Veteran's application to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, previously claimed as weakness in bilateral legs is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome has been reopened, and the Board is remanding his claims for an increased rating for thoracolumbar spine strain and TDIU due to back disability.

The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is granted a separate disability rating of 10 percent for instability, but the initial ratings for other conditions remain denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection due to a lack of prior formal or informal claims filed before April 24, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The right little finger fracture is not compensable, the right knee has a maximum schedular rating of 20 percent, and the left knee removal of symptomatic semilunar cartilage does not warrant an increase in rating.

The Veteran is granted a 30 percent rating for instability of the left knee effective July 18, 2004.,The Veteran is also granted a 20 percent rating for dislocated semilunar cartilage (meniscus) effective July 18, 2004. The TDIU was granted effective March 27, 2004.

The Veteran's migraine headaches, left knee condition, right knee condition, back condition, and sleep apnea are all found to be etiologically linked to his active-duty service.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's migraine headaches, bilateral knee conditions (left and right), and back condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions are remanded due to the need for additional development and evidence.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disabilities. The claims for erectile dysfunction, increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and other issues are being remanded.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain was granted an initial 20 percent rating prior to October 22, 2019. From that date onwards, a higher rating is denied.

Service connection for a fractured tooth root is granted, allowing outpatient dental treatment.,Right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is service-connected and rated at 50%.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to identify and obtain the appellant's service records, both personnel and medical, from their periods of IADT for basic combat training (BCT) and advanced individual training (AIT). The National Guard service records are also required. Once these records are obtained, the appeal will be readjudicated.

The Board denied service connection for respiratory, right ankle, and left knee disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service. The Board found that any current disabilities were not caused by or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee condition and baker's cyst, left knee due to the lack of evidence of current disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional evaluations of her right and left knee iliotibial band syndrome. The combined evaluation for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities remains denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate examination in the previous decision, and a new examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection and SMC have been remanded due to the submission of a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) under the legacy system, which has now been accepted by the Board.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection of left ear hearing loss and left knee conditions. The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a 100% disability rating, effective from May 17, 2018, and TDIU is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, PTSD, hypoesthesia of the lateral third of the left lower lip, lumbar strain, irritable bowel syndrome, dermatitis, and bilateral tinnitus are all granted. The Veteran is assigned a 10% rating for each condition.