Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence requiring further development by the AOJ.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining records from his Vet Center and VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his left knee disability, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased ratings for right knee, left knee, and right foot conditions due to a lack of recent VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeals as the Veteran's attorney withdrew all issues on appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder due to incomplete records and need for new medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left knee tendonitis disabilities have been denied. The appeal is remanded for further evaluation of service connection, disability rating, and other issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left knee condition is related to his military service. The issues of entitlement to service connection and nonservice connected pension are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment from August 11, 2017, to June 14, 2021. The Board granted a TDIU based on the evidence in equipoise.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the current ratings for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, low back disorder, respiratory disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder are all at their maximum allowable levels or do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted service connection. The remaining appealed issues are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for major depressive disorder was denied. The claims for increased ratings for right knee disability prior to February 11, 2020 were also denied. However, the Veteran was granted a TDIU effective April 1, 2021.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, right knee injury, and residuals of right ankle fracture.

The Board denied service connection for right-knee and left-knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions were not incurred or aggravated by his active military service.

The Veteran's left knee residuals of arthroscopic surgery are rated at 20 percent for moderate instability prior to October 6, 2015 and at 30 percent since May 12, 2016. The Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is rated at 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for right knee instability is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and evaluation of his range of motion.

The Veteran's tinnitus, left knee condition, and right knee condition are all granted service connection. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability related to in-service noise exposure for his tinnitus, an injury during service for his left knee condition, and symptoms since service for his right knee condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, have rendered her unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to August 3, 2012. Additionally, the Veteran's psychiatric disability alone has also precluded her from obtaining or maintaining substantial gainful employment during this period.

The Board denied service connection for a right upper trapezius condition, but granted readjudication of claims for service connection for bilateral knee and elbow conditions due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of current disabilities for the right index finger, left index finger, right elbow, left elbow, right knee, or right ankle. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's claims for residuals of right ankle keloid removal, left foot disability, right foot disability, facial tic, pyelonephritis (claimed as chronic kidney infections), and lumbosacral strain status post L1-3 lumbar laminectomy have all been denied.,Service connection has not been established for any of the conditions listed.