Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and left hamstring disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's initial and increased rating claims for his right knee disability, left knee disability, and cartilage damage of the right knee have been denied. The decision does not address any service connection theory or exposure basis.

The Veteran's left knee condition, including degenerative joint disease and meniscus repair, is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional limitations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, indicating he no longer wished to pursue the claims for service connection or rating increases. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation from November 30, 2009, through November 14, 2014. He also has diabetes which is rated at over 60 percent. Therefore, TDIU and SMC at the housebound rate are granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disorders, as well as her acquired psychiatric disability. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding its onset and whether it is secondary to her service-connected knee disorders.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as his claim for TDIU. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current bilateral knee disabilities to service or any other incident in service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for depression and service connection for corneal abrasion are dismissed. The Veteran's claim for service connection for hemorrhoids as secondary to his service-connected IBS is granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, which is related to his right knee disability, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder arthritis, left knee disability, and a muscle disorder (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) due to insufficient evidence in the VA examinations provided. The Veteran is also seeking higher ratings for his lumbar strain, right knee osteoarthritis, and migraine headaches.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and TDIU due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service, and found that the Veteran's disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim for referral to the Director of Compensation Service due to insufficient discussion in the June 2021 decision regarding his service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the appellant's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy.,No effective date is assigned as the claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's request for a TDIU rating since October 23, 2014 is dismissed due to the combined 100% schedular disability rating. For the period before October 23, 2014, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches.,The Veteran's right knee disability, diagnosed as right knee strain with degenerative arthritis status post arthroscopy, is granted on the basis of aggravation during service.,The Veteran's left knee disability, diagnosed as left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, is granted on the basis of aggravation during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no persuasive weight of evidence to support these claims.,The Board noted that while the Veteran reported in-service back pain and knee conditions, post-service medical records did not show development of these conditions within a year after service.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, TMJ disability, back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been granted. The decision also denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issue of entitlement to service connection for right knee disability due to conflicting opinions and lack of clear evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome was denied as there is no medical evidence linking the current condition to service. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the third element of service connection (a link between the current disability and service) due to lack of chronicity.

The Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis, as well as his low back disability (intervertebral disc syndrome), have been granted service connection. A 40 percent rating has been assigned for the low back disability prior to September 3, 2019.