Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected lumbar spine, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and/or right ankle disabilities. The case will be returned for a new examination and medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of balance is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or any in-service injury that could be linked to the condition.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied as his hearing acuity does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left leg disorder other than left hip strain, left knee strain, and left ankle strain, as well as for a bilateral pelvic disorder. The Board found that there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unemployable, and the Board has granted a TDIU based on this finding.

The Board denied service connection for herpes, finding the evidence did not support a link to active service.,The Board remanded several other claims including tinea versicolor, broken and bitten off left middle finger, right side lower rib contusion residuals, right knee tendonitis, bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome, left foot disability, back condition, left shoulder disability, irritable bowel syndrome, and respiratory disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with effective dates ranging from March 16, 2001 to January 4, 2008. The conditions were related to his military service and the VA has assigned full ratings (100%) for all granted issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as his combined service-connected disability rating has reached 100%, rendering the issue moot.

The Veteran's service connection claim for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the neck, shoulders, lower back, elbows, wrists, hands, knees, ankles, and feet is granted as her current diagnosis aligns with her symptoms during service.

The Veteran's left ankle, left knee, and right knee conditions have been rated at 10 percent each. The Veteran's right middle finger condition has also been rated at 10 percent.,All claims for increased ratings were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee tendonitis/tendinosis and right knee meniscal tear are causally related to his active service, granting entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Board has granted a TDIU from February 29, 2012 onwards due to the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities. The decision also grants a TDIU prior to this date based on his neurodermatitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service, and he should be afforded a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluation of his left knee, coccyx injury, right foot disability, left foot disability, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood and insomnia due to new evidence or further examination.

The Veteran's application to reopen the claim of service connection for headaches was granted. The appeal as to TBI and PTSD issues is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to an error in docketing his appeal under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). The Veteran must now file a Statement of the Case and submit a VA Form 9 if he wishes to continue with his appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether any diagnosed right knee condition pre-existed service and was not aggravated by it.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left wrist and left knee disabilities. The VA will need to provide new examinations to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment from July 25, 2011 to October 3, 2018. The Board found the evidence in equipoise as to whether he was unemployable due to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted as secondary to her service-connected right knee disability. A rating in excess of 10 percent for the right knee instability and a TDIU prior to April 30, 2020 are remanded.