Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a left leg injury, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between current left leg problems and an in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability and related conditions have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 1, 2019. The Board has referred the issue of TDIU prior to this date for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to missing service treatment records. The Appellant's left knee disability and hypertension are being reviewed again as part of this process.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed. The Board has granted service connection for right lower extremity neurological impairment, but denied the rest of the claims.

The Board has found that the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) did not substantially comply with prior remand directives and has ordered further development for an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his left knee disabilities is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination and lack of objective standards for determining instability.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including service connection for respiratory and cervical spine disabilities, as well as increased ratings for his low back and lower extremity radiculopathy. The appeals are now pending again due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for prostate cancer and increased rating for left knee scar were both denied. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, and the Veteran's prostate cancer was not related to his military service. For the left knee scar, a 10 percent rating is granted but the Veteran does not meet the criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as a failure to establish a current disability or link between in-service stressors and current symptoms. Service connection was also not granted for asbestos exposure and respiratory disorder.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding higher ratings for posttraumatic headaches, a lumbar sprain, left knee patellofemoral syndrome and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome as well as for entitlement to service connection for temporomandibular joint pain.

The Board has denied service connection for left knee condition, right knee condition, left leg varicose veins, and right leg varicose veins. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied increased ratings for lumbar strain and osteoarthritis of the right knee, finding that the Veteran's conditions did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on range of motion or neurological impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been found to preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, resulting in a grant of TDIU effective October 21, 2014.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to obtain medical records and conduct examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability, lumbar spine, right shoulder, right wrist, and right knee disabilities. Additionally, he must be examined to determine the nature and etiology of any left knee, right ankle, left ankle, and respiratory disabilities.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations did not fully consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding his symptoms and history. Therefore, the issues of service connection for torn tendons in both ankles, lower back condition, and left knee condition are being remanded to obtain a new examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to failure to comply with prior remand directives.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, GERD, right hip osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected right knee osteoarthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis as secondary to service-connected right knee osteoarthritis due to outstanding VA medical records. The appeals are being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for several issues, including increased disability ratings and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The left knee issue requires an SOC due to non-compliance with prior Board directives. The thoracic and lumbar spondylosis, adjustment disorder, TBI, and post-traumatic headaches issues require additional examinations and assessments.

The Veteran was awarded SMC(o) based on multiple service-connected disabilities, and SMC(r)(1) for need of aid and attendance. The Board found the criteria for higher levels of SMC were not met.

The Veteran's child is denied helpless child benefits due to insufficient evidence showing the child was permanently incapable of self-support prior to turning 18.