Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection claims for allergic rhinitis, left thumb laceration residuals, and other lower extremity disabilities have been granted. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims and requests for compensable ratings for his service-connected scars and migraines.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee condition is related to his service or if it is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability. Additional medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The left knee osteoarthritis was rated at 10 percent, while the right knee instability was rated at 20 percent prior to February 22, 2023, but not higher than 20 percent thereafter. The Veteran did not meet criteria for TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, PTSD, and acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD) are not related to service. The claims for these conditions are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee condition, which is presumed to be related to her Gulf War service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, left shoulder, and lumbar spine disabilities due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disability was reopened on the basis of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted to this extent.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for a lumbar spine disability prior to August 21, 2020 remains denied.,The Veteran's right knee disability has been rated with a separate 10 percent rating since December 15, 2009 due to slight instability. The appeal is denied.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for left lower extremity radiculopathy prior to July 17, 2009 remains denied.,The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has been rated with a disability rating in excess of 50 percent since May 20, 2023. The appeal is denied.,The Veteran was granted TDIU effective prior to May 30, 2023.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, resulting in TDIU. The Veteran also received a disability rating of 30 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee post-July 1, 2020, with no higher rating warranted under any other diagnostic codes.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinnitus, neck disability, back condition, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral hip disorder, left knee disability, and bilateral ankle and foot disorders. However, the claims have been remanded due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left lower extremity radiculopathy is being remanded due to the need for further development.

The Veteran's left knee internal derangement with traumatic arthritis is rated at 30 percent for the period from August 1, 2017 to July 30, 2023. The rating was increased based on instability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,Service connection for right knee disability is also being remanded as there was insufficient evidence in the record regarding its etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, left eye disability, left knee disability, right knee disability, right foot disability, and right ankle disability. The Veteran's disabilities are found to be related to his active service.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to higher initial ratings for left elbow olecranon bursitis, left knee degenerative arthritis, right hip acetabular impingement syndrome with limitation of extension, flexion, and adduction, and left hip acetabular impingement syndrome with limitation of extension, flexion, rotation, and adduction.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral foot disability, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability. Service connection was denied for right knee disability and left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the nature and etiology of the Veteran's knee conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for an initial compensable rating for right shoulder scars and left knee scar, as well as service connection for a bilateral eye disability due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran needs to be afforded VA examinations to determine the current severity of his disabilities and their etiology.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for right shoulder condition (dominant) and left shoulder condition (non-dominant), claimed as bilateral shoulder conditions, were denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for right knee condition, claimed as bilateral knee condition, was also denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,Service connection for mouth condition with gum issues was denied because the Veteran did not have a current compensable dental or oral disability.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for right shoulder condition (dominant) and left shoulder condition (non-dominant), claimed as bilateral shoulder conditions, were denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's request to reopen a claim for service connection for right knee condition, claimed as bilateral knee condition, was also denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for service connection for right shoulder condition, left shoulder condition, and right knee condition were denied due to the lack of new and relevant evidence.,Service connection for mouth condition with gum issues was also denied as there is no legal entitlement to compensation benefits predicated upon service connection.