Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection of degenerative arthritis of the left knee was initially filed on February 18, 2011. The effective date is set at April 26, 2016, as this is when the VA awarded service connection based on a new Intent to File submitted by the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities of the back, right shoulder, right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to active service.

Your claims for increased ratings for right and left knee arthritis have been dismissed as you elected to opt-in to the modernized review system under the AMA.

The Board has remanded the initial rating claims for right and left knee disabilities and a right hip strain, as these issues are intertwined with earlier effective date claims that were not addressed in previous decisions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new development and examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all listed conditions, and the Board has dismissed these cases as a result.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence of chronic or long-term conditions during active service or within one year post-service. The Board also found that these disabilities are not related to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee disability due to missing medical records and the need for an examination. The case will be returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of both knees due to incomplete VA examinations and scheduling issues.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and instability are now rated at 30 percent, effective October 9, 2019. The skin cancer claim related to exposure to herbicides agents and environmental chemicals is remanded.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including obtaining medical records and workers' compensation records. The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability is also being remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal was granted for various conditions, including a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a separate 10 percent rating for meralgia paresthetica. The Veteran also received increased ratings for his lumbar spine disability, left knee degenerative joint disease, and gunshot wound residuals. However, the Veteran did not receive a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss or a higher rating for his left knee instability.

The Veteran's hallux valgus and left knee strain with osteoarthritis were rated at 10 percent prior to March 20, 2011. The Board found that the current ratings are appropriate given the evidence of record. However, the claim for a higher rating is remanded due to the lack of recent examination assessing the severity of left knee strain with osteoarthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a low back condition as secondary to a bilateral knee condition, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing Osgood-Schlatter’s disease in both knees, and that any current osteoarthritis is not related to service. The Board also found that the Veteran's low back condition is not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's low back disability. The issues of evaluating left knee and right knee disabilities are also being remanded.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.,Diabetes mellitus, Type II with retinopathy does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent due to the absence of episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions requiring hospitalization.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee osteoarthritis due to inadequate medical opinion in the previous VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of his knee disabilities and neck disability have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the cases due to lack of available National Guard service records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's left knee disorder should be remanded for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to address the relationship between his current left knee disorders and service.