Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities due to deficiencies in the April 2021 VA medical opinions. The claims are now pending for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, left shoulder DJD, right shoulder DJD, lumbar spine DJD, and right knee DJD. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection was not granted as the Board found no medical evidence that any of the Veteran's claimed disabilities were incurred or aggravated by his active duty.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been fully evaluated, and there are issues regarding his ability to work due to his insomnia and knee conditions.

The Veteran's 10 percent rating for left knee subluxation is restored effective February 1, 2018. The issues of entitlement to a higher rating and TDIU are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability and a left knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or within the presumptive period.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability. The current examination and opinion are inadequate, and additional diagnostic studies and an addendum examination are needed to confirm the existence and nature of any current right knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including dermatitis, left ankle and knee conditions, urticaria, and nerve injury, make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether he can perform most occupations due to his disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for avascular necrosis of the left hip, right knee, and left knee, as well as striae of all extremities and the trunk. These conditions are found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected kidney disorder.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to March 25, 2019 for TDIU was denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that her service-connected disabilities prevented her from obtaining and maintaining employment prior to March 25, 2019.,The Veteran's appeal for past-due benefits by the grants of basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) and TDIU effective March 25, 2019 was remanded. The Board noted that there was a discrepancy in the amount of past-due benefits awarded and ordered a complete audit/accounting.

The Board has determined that there are errors in the decision-making process and requires further development for claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, and low back disorders.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected right and left knee flexion disabilities, as well as his service-connected left knee instability. The RO is instructed to obtain and associate the Veteran's VA treatment records from February 2015 to February 2018 with the claims file.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right foot disorder, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and headache disorder due to insufficient medical evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if his current conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is related to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues include gout, residuals of pneumonia, bladder disorder, kidney disorder, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, bilateral knee disorder (previously claimed as arthritis), bilateral shoulder disorder (previously claimed as arthritis), and bilateral ankle disorder (previously claimed as arthritis).

The Veteran's headaches are rated at a 50 percent since January 28, 2020. Service connection for left knee arthritis is granted.

The Veteran's initial rating for proximal phalanx fracture, left 1st toe with osteoarthritis is granted at a 20% level. The knee issues are remanded for further examination and etiology opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability and instability due to deficiencies in prior VA examinations, including lack of range of motion testing under Correia v. McDonald (2016) and Sharp v. Shulkin (2017).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders, including as secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and missing treatment records. The Veteran's current diagnoses of imbalance, psychiatric disability (likely anxiety), and bilateral knee disabilities are being reviewed.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination results regarding the Veteran's right knee range of motion, specifically during weight-bearing.