Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 50 percent since the appeal period began, and his right hip bursitis has also been granted a 50 percent rating. The other issues remain pending.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability was granted. The claim of service connection for a left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, which is not secondary to service-connected right knee disabilities, was denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services at Providence Healthcare on April 9, 2016, and June 13, 2016, due to the urgent nature of his knee pain and rash, which were not previously authorized by VA. The next closest VA facilities were over 40 miles away.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions and missing service treatment records. The Veteran's left knee disability is being reviewed again for proper consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) as it is related to the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to assess the severity and frequency of flare-ups. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricability with the increased rating claim.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for the year 2014 is granted because his service-connected left knee brace caused excessive wear and tear to his outer garments.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it had its onset during active service and is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his back disability and bilateral knee disorders due to inadequate VA examination findings, outstanding private treatment records, and recently amended rating criteria.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations and updated medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for radiculopathy of the left lower extremity was denied as VA did not receive a valid claim prior to June 15, 2015.,Claims for service connection for various conditions were previously denied in final rating decisions dated October 2006 and March 2009. The Veteran's claims have been reopened but no new evidence was submitted within one year of these decisions.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus and knee disabilities are being remanded for further development as they may be secondary to her service-connected hypothyroidism.,The Veteran's left and right knees are also being remanded for further development as they may be related to her service-connected hypothyroidism.

The Board has granted the appellant's application to reopen her claims for service connection for hepatitis C and left knee disability, but denied a higher rating for her left shoulder disability. The claim for service connection for cause of death is also remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability was rated based on instability and arthritis. The issues of service connection for fibromyalgia, increased rating for scars and saphenous neuropathy, and TDIU were remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability, finding that these conditions began during his active service.

The Board denied service connection for thoracic spine and left wrist CTS disabilities, but granted a separate 10% rating for mild instability of the right knee throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches and bilateral knee osteoarthritis were denied as there was no evidence of a direct relationship to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an upper body neurological component disability was dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection in a July 2020 rating decision.,For his back disability, the Veteran is not entitled to increased ratings prior to January 23, 2020 and thereafter (40 percent).

The Veteran's service connection claim for diabetes mellitus is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of herbicide exposure during service, and there is no medical evidence linking his current diabetes to service or any other basis for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right knee disability due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.