Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted.,New evidence has been submitted to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder, left shoulder arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, and peptic ulcer disease, all related to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inconsistencies and inadequacies in recent VA examinations, and for obtaining any outstanding private treatment records. The Veteran will be scheduled for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a thyroid disability, and increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities prior to August 14, 2020, were denied. The claim for an increased rating for her right and left knee disabilities after August 14, 2020, was also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between his current condition and his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection due to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for left knee instability and degenerative arthritis was denied. The Veteran received a separate rating of 20 percent for dislocated semilunar cartilage from June 27, 2017.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right shoulder disorder is not service-connected, and has remanded for further development regarding his right knee disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequacies in the most recent VA medical opinions. The Veteran's DJD of thoracolumbar spine, left shoulder, and left knee are being reviewed again to determine if they are related to his service-connected DJD of his left ankle and/or left hand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for total left knee arthroplasty and entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's reports of left ankle, left knee and right knee symptoms during service are credible. The case is being remanded to obtain new VA examinations to address the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,An effective date earlier than April 25, 2013, is denied for the awards of service connection for right knee tendonitis and thoracolumbar sprain.

Service connection is granted for right and left knee disabilities.,Service connection is denied for lipoma, sarcoidosis, and COPD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected right knee, right foot, and scar disabilities are being remanded due to the need for further examination and additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claims of service connection, rating increases, and TDIU are being returned to the RO for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is aggravated by his service-connected left knee disability, hypertension, and/or PTSD.

The Veteran's low back and right hip disabilities are found to be secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran is granted a separate rating for limitation of extension, but not for flexion.

The Veteran was awarded TDIU benefits starting from February 4, 2009 due to his service-connected PTSD and right knee disability. The Board found the Veteran unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment during this period.

Service connection for a psychiatric disorder, currently manifested by paranoid schizophrenia with secondary alcohol dependence, is granted.,The claims of service connection for both eyes (vision problems) (now claimed as eye condition), right knee condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, and left ankle condition are remanded due to the need for further evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pes planus, left knee disability, right knee disability, and bilateral shin splints have been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's pes planus preexisted his active duty service and was not aggravated by it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected thoracolumbar spine disability and left knee disability due to pending higher-level review requests.

An increased rating of 70 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizoaffective disorder and adjustment disorder is granted effective April 1, 2015.,An increased rating of 100 percent for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizoaffective disorder and adjustment disorder is granted effective March 13, 2016.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,An initial rating in excess of 10 percent for a right knee disability is denied.,A separate initial rating of 10 percent for painful left knee limitation of motion is granted effective April 1, 2015.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted effective October 1, 2015.