Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disabilities, generalized arthritis other than the spine, and fluid in the bilateral lower extremities due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran is also being asked to clarify his testimony regarding when he began experiencing symptoms of these conditions.

The Veteran's left knee disability, post-total knee arthroplasty (TKA), is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 60 percent from April 1, 2020. The Board has remanded for further development regarding a higher initial rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now pending. The Board has ordered the submission of additional medical opinions to address the etiology of his right knee and right shoulder disorders.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for the service-connected right knee scars from October 21, 2011 to April 3, 2013 was denied. An initial 20 percent rating and no higher for the service-connected right knee scars from April 3, 2013 to December 20, 2016 was granted. The Veteran's initial compensable rating for the service-connected right knee scars from December 20, 2016 to April 1, 2020 was denied.

The Veteran's claims for cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities have been reopened, but the Board has determined that service connection is not warranted based on lack of nexus between current disabilities and service. The right hand and left hand disability claims are also remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal includes multiple issues related to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left shoulder and ankle conditions, knee degenerative joint disease, radiculopathy, skin disorders, cervical spine disability, facial injury residuals, TMJ, sleep apnea, headaches, hand tremors, CFS, fibromyalgia, and muscle and joint pain. The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to properly evaluate these issues.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder was granted. Service connection for the lumbar spine disorder is also granted, with an effective date of October 2018. The issues regarding effective dates for other service-connected disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the previous remand directives and requires further development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ankle, right knee, and right foot disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether his service-connected disabilities caused or worsened any weight gain or obesity.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for additional dependency compensation for his children was denied as the claim was submitted more than one year after he received notification of his eligibility.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, calcaneal fracture of the right foot, and anterior cruciate ligament tear of the right knee. The decision is based on obesity being an intermediate step in causing the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The claims for service connection for left and right shoulder disabilities, left and right hand disabilities, neck disability, right ring finger disability, and throat disability have been dismissed.,New evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claims for service connection for low back disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, erectile dysfunction, left knee disability, and right knee disability.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he has withdrawn all his pending claims and appeals.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, right knee, left knee, right foot, and left foot disabilities as they are related to his military service.,Service connection was denied for the Veteran's right eye and left eye disabilities due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's residuals of right ankle injury are granted as service-connected. The cases for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right knee pain and arthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms were continuous after service separation but not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's appeals for service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, and lumbosacral strain based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection, as well as a remand is required for an initial compensable rating for right lower extremity scars.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and scar, effective from March 5, 2008. The effective date is set at April 6, 2021.