Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for asthma, hypertension, and left knee disability due to unclear service status from March 15 to April 7, 2002. The RO is instructed to determine if this period qualifies as qualifying service and obtain VA examinations focusing on whether these conditions were aggravated or related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right hip disability.,Service connection has also been granted for left hip and left knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding that there was no medical evidence linking his current knee disabilities to injuries sustained during active service. The Board noted that while the Veteran had in-service knee injuries and surgeries, he did not have any chronic knee conditions upon separation from service, and X-ray evidence of arthritis only appeared years after service.

The Board has remanded the case for another VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's right knee disability, including testing active motion, passive motion, and pain with weight-bearing and without weight-bearing. The examiner is also requested to provide a retrospective addendum opinion regarding the degree of functional loss during flare-ups.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent, which exceeds the requested rating of 30 percent.,CAD is currently rated at 30 percent and does not warrant a higher rating due to the absence of congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent.,The thoracolumbar spine disability is rated at 20 percent, which corresponds to forward flexion limited to 60 degrees during flare-ups and after repetitive use testing. The Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of left ventricular dysfunction or ankylosis.,Left knee chondromalacia is rated at 10 percent, which corresponds to objective evidence of painful motion without loss in range of motion on flexion. The Veteran's symptoms do not warrant a higher rating.,GERD with hiatal hernia is rated at 10 percent, which corresponds to considerable impairment of health but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing service records and requests for military records. The Veteran's right leg disability, including crepitus of the knee and/or lower leg, as well as a knee disability, will be reviewed again with additional development.

The Veteran's left knee strain was granted a 30 percent rating from February 21, 2009 to March 17, 2014. The decision also granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability beginning June 6, 2008.

The Veteran's service connection claim for restless leg syndrome was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to her active duty service or a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was also denied due to her having multiple service-connected disabilities, none of which alone meet the schedular requirements for TDIU.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are being reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no further action can be taken on these claims.

The Veteran's heart murmur claim is denied as there is no objective evidence of a current diagnosis.,The Veteran's bilateral knee condition and poor circulation claims are denied due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to service or any other relevant factor.,Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine is granted, with secondary service connection already in effect for cervical radiculopathy of the left side.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of additional disability caused by or resulting from VA care, treatment, examination, or training.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is not service-connected as it did not manifest within a year of separation and there is no evidence linking the condition to his military service.,Service connection for exposure to chlorine gas is denied because there was no documented exposure during service, and the Veteran does not have any current respiratory or right knee disabilities related to such exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability and arthritis of the bilateral lower extremities due to lack of a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition due to lack of evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service. The VA examiner provided a negative nexus opinion, stating that there is no medical evidence showing a link between the Veteran's in-service symptoms and his current condition.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is currently rated at 40% and his left and right ankle disabilities are both rated at 10%. The claims for increased ratings remain pending as the AOJ has remanded them.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions including bilateral elbow, wrist, knee disorders, a heart disorder, and a low back disorder due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to January 1, 2020 for adding a dependency allowance for her spouse due to lack of evidence showing actual receipt of notice regarding her marriage.