Knee Board decisions

The Board has identified errors in the original decision and remands all claims for further development, including consideration of potential PACT Act exposure.

The Veteran's previously denied claim for bilateral ankle condition is dismissed.,New evidence supports the readjudication of claims for service connection for right knee, bilateral foot, and lumbosacral strain conditions.

The Board has found that new and relevant evidence has been received for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability, but the AOJ did not consider this in their decision. The claims for left knee and right knee disabilities are remanded to allow for proper consideration of all available evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for patellofemoral pain syndrome, left and right knees due to insufficient evidence in the record regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current knee conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in prior VA examinations, which did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication used by the Veteran for his right leg and knee condition. The claim will be returned to the AOJ for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee strain disability is etiologically related to service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a left knee disability due to insufficient evidence and failure to obtain a VA examination. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for all claims of service connection, including those for bilateral flat feet, thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, cervical spine degenerative arthritis, right CTS, left CTS, essential tremors, right ankle arthritis, right shoulder arthritis, and left knee arthritis. The appeal of sleep apnea was granted in a July 2024 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from securing and maintaining substantial, gainful employment prior to May 1, 2021. Her earnings exceeded the poverty threshold for each year during this period.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and granted earlier effective dates of January 22, 2024, for the grants of service connection for right ear hearing loss, a left shoulder disability (left shoulder strain with joint instability), a low back disability (lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS)), left knee strain, left knee limitation of flexion, and left knee limitation of extension.

The Board has determined that the VA examination is incomplete and requires additional examination to determine if the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service. The case is therefore being remanded for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee arthritis disabilities, finding that there was no current diagnosis of a right or left knee arthritis disability during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right ankle disability due to deficiencies in the VA examination provided. The Veteran's current knee disabilities are presumed to have existed prior to service, but a new VA examination is needed to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing all issues related to effective dates and service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were granted with effective dates of March 31, 2006. The Veteran was found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his stroke and other disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the remaining issues due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, scoliosis and compression fracture of T5 and L2, cervical strain, herniation to C5-6, and narrowing at C3-5, and right knee strain. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible reports of symptoms during active duty.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, diagnosed as generalized anxiety disorder, is granted. The Veteran's tinnitus is also granted.,Bladder cancer and heart disability (including a heart attack) are remanded for further review due to insufficient evidence of service connection. Obstructive sleep apnea is also remanded with respect to the exposure basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in providing notice of a personal hearing, and compliance with the Joint Motion for Partial Remand (JMPR).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on statutory housebound status due to her service-connected conditions and additional nonservice-connected disabilities, finding that she did not meet the criteria for SMC.