Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development and readjudication due to incomplete service personnel records, SSA disability benefit records, and private medical records. The Veteran will be offered an additional hearing with a Decision Review Officer.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma and denied service connection for a left knee disability. Service connection is granted for asthma as it was initially manifested during the Veteran's period of service, with continuity of symptoms since then. The denial of service connection for the left knee disability is based on the lack of current diagnosis or manifestation of such condition.

The Veteran's nervous tics were found to be related to his service in the Southwest Asia theatre, and service connection for this condition is granted. The other issues on appeal are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee, right knee, lower back, and acquired anxiety disorders. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during service or were related to in-service injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,Service connection was denied for a right knee disorder and a baker’s cyst located behind the right knee.

The Board dismissed the appeals for bilateral flatfeet and left ankle disorder. The Veteran's claim for tinnitus was granted, with service connection established based on in-service noise exposure. The claims for right great toe disorder, bilateral foot disorders (other than flatfeet), left knee disorder, and TBI are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for right shoulder injury, right elbow injury, and right hip injury. The claim for malignant melanoma on the left foot has been denied.,Service connection is established for right knee injury, right ankle disability (remanded), and left knee injury.

The Veteran's flatfeet were aggravated by service and are considered secondary to his service-connected condition.,The Veteran's right hip disability is due to his service-connected flatfeet.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination reports and ordered a new VA examination for both knees. The Veteran's knee conditions are being reviewed again.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims can be adjudicated due to insufficient medical opinions and new evidence. The Veteran's low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of multiple body parts, including wrists, hips, elbows, ankles, and shoulders, as secondary to his service-connected psoriasis. The decision is based on a lack of competent diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various elbow and knee disabilities were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran while his appeal was pending.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent for limitation of motion, and instability. A separate rating for symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage has been granted.,The Veteran's left knee disability was previously rated based on limitation of motion, but a separate rating for symptomatic removal of the semilunar cartilage is now in effect.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B, right hip disorder, lumbar spine disorder, left shoulder disorder, cervical spine disorder, and bilateral knee disorder have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of a current disability in any of these conditions.,Service connection was not granted as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to lack of diagnosis or manifestation within one year after discharge.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for her left knee disability is denied. She currently receives a 60% evaluation for status post total left knee replacement, effective February 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DDD at L5-S1 and left knee disability, as well as the associated radiculopathy of the lower extremities, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's right knee DJD was granted a 20 percent disability rating for the period prior to November 11, 2019. For the period beginning on November 11, 2019, his right knee DJD is rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The initial compensable rating for hearing loss in the left ear was denied, as did the claim for an increased disability rating for major depressive disorder during a specific period. The issues of service connection for radiculopathy of the right lower extremity and surgical scars from left knee arthroscopic surgery had earlier effective dates.

The Board denied service connection for various joint disorders, including those allegedly due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of actual or presumptive exposure.

The Board denied service connection for left hip, lumbar spine, and right knee disorders as they are not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident in service.