Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings higher than 10 percent each for right and left knee strain require additional medical examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is dismissed as the RO granted it in a March 2021 rating decision. The remaining claims of service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip, ankle, hand, knee and shoulder disabilities. However, due to insufficient evidence regarding current diagnoses and continuity of symptoms since service, these issues are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left and right knee strain disabilities are being remanded due to concerns about the adequacy of previous VA examinations and potential regulatory changes.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for dizziness, left knee disability, and right shoulder disability due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The cases are being sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for denying the Veteran's claim for an increased rating, specifically regarding the findings in the January 2020 and May 2021 VA examination reports.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for joint pain of the ankles, knees, lower legs, shoulders, arms, and wrists due to his failure to report for a necessary examination without good cause. The available evidence did not support a conclusion that these conditions were incurred in or related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete review under the modernized review system.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any right knee, right foot, left knee, and left foot disorders. The Veteran's service records indicate possible exposure during service but no specific exposure basis was provided.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disability and granted it. The right knee disability is rated at 10 percent, effective from August 7, 1998.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to inadequate medical examinations and failure to address relevant lay reports regarding post-service continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination records and development of evidence.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee condition, as well as his increased disability ratings for bilateral foot conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain medical nexus opinions on direct and secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to a lack of issuance of a Statement of the Case (SOC) and improper form use in filing his appeal. The issues will be returned to the RO for further action.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 60% disability rating for his service-connected arthritis of the left knee, status post knee replacement, effective October 1, 2018. The reduction from 60% to 30% was not proper due to material improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, left knee, lumbar spine, and cervical spine disabilities due to lack of contemporaneous medical records and insufficient documentation recording the Veteran's complaints or diagnoses during service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his left and right knee patellar instability, tricompartmental degenerative arthritis based on painful motion, and cartilage damage have been denied due to failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.,Effective dates prior to May 2, 2017, for the grant of initial 20 percent ratings for left and right knee cartilage damage have been granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left ankle disability, and bilateral knee disabilities. The decision also mentions that further development is needed due to potential toxic exposure from the Veteran's MOS duties.

Your appeal for service connection of bilateral knee, shoulder, and foot disabilities has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.