Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right total knee replacement disability is rated at 60 percent effective January 1, 2019. The Board has also granted a TDIU from the same date. However, the case is remanded for further action regarding an earlier effective date for the TDIU.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for tension headaches, but the cases of right knee disability and sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and service connection were denied. For the right shoulder disability, no higher evaluation was granted due to lack of limitation of motion midway between side and shoulder level. For the bilateral knee disabilities, no higher evaluation was granted due to lack of flexion or extension limitations. The left shoulder condition was not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's migraines are granted a 30% rating as of April 13, 2016. The right elbow, left knee, right ankle, left wrist, and right wrist conditions are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The cases are being sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right leg and knee disorders, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and active service.

The Board denied service connection for various orthopedic and ocular conditions, as well as COPD or other pulmonary disability. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence showing a direct link to service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated based on the severity of their symptoms and impairment. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly rate these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various foot and ankle disorders due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The issues are not about service connection via a presumption, but rather on the merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee condition is related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to May 3, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg/knee condition is denied. The appeal for TDIU, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis rating increase, and effective date prior to June 19, 2018 are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right wrist disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and low back disabilities, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran's knee conditions are being reviewed again with a focus on direct service connection, pre-existing condition aggravation, or new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her left knee replacement is being remanded due to the need for initial adjudication considering evidence generated by VA after the appeal was transferred to the Board.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for heart condition, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to potential exposure to herbicides during active duty service. The Veteran's unit is not determined as having served in or near the Korean DMZ.

The Board denied service connection for left wrist and left knee disabilities, finding that the preexisting conditions were not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of his right shoulder chronic tendonitis, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee instability. The Veteran also has service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration.