Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee DJD caused his 2017 meniscus tear and arthroscopy, as well as reports of instability, imbalance, and frequent falls. The VA is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's initial claim for a right knee scar was denied, and he is now seeking an increased rating.,For the period prior to October 18, 2019, his right knee scar has been rated as zero percent. The Board found that this rating is not appropriate given the symptoms described.

The Veteran's right knee meniscal tear and left knee meniscal cyst with arthritis are granted service connection as they started during his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during her military service and have persisted since then.

The Veteran's claims for higher disability ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of effective date determinations in the February 2015 rating decision. The Veteran is also requested to provide any outstanding VA treatment records.

Service connection is granted for a left knee condition, right knee condition (secondary to the service-connected left knee condition), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder).,The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are found to be caused by in-service injuries. Service connection is also granted for his major depressive disorder as it is determined to be related to his service-connected lumbosacral strain.,Service connection for right lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to the service-connected lumbosacral strain remains pending and requires further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee internal derangement was granted with an effective date of February 3, 2016. The Board found that the condition became factually ascertainable to be productive of a 10 percent rating on that day.

The Board has remanded several claims for increased ratings and TDIU, including those related to the Veteran's low back disability, right knee disability, right ankle disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy. The claims are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports and the need for new VA examinations.

Your appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed as the Veteran's authorized representative requested withdrawal of these issues.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are being remanded for further examination and rating consideration due to the complexity of his conditions, including a recent left total knee arthroplasty. The issues include seeking higher ratings for various periods and determining if he is unemployable based on his disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, migraine headaches, and right shoulder strain.,An effective date earlier than October 31, 2013 for the grant of service connection for migraine headaches and right shoulder strain was also denied.

The Veteran's right knee DJD, status post meniscal tear is currently rated at 10 percent and the Board finds that an increased rating is not warranted.,The effective date for service connection of the right knee DJD, status post meniscal tear was changed from May 7, 2015 to June 24, 2015.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including asthma, bilateral hearing loss, ankle and elbow disabilities, knee disabilities, hypothyroidism, and a skin condition are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to procedural errors in previous decisions, including issues with timeliness of notices and obtaining STRs from the Veteran's period of active duty for training. The claims are now pending again.

The Veteran's lung mass claim was denied in an August 2009 rating decision. The appellant has withdrawn her appeals for the left shoulder, left knee, and right knee pain claims.,The Board is remanding the cause of death claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral shoulder, knee, and foot disabilities are related to active service or caused by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has vacated the restoration of ratings for left knee sprain and instability, finding that proper procedural notice was not provided. The appeal for restoration of these ratings is denied.

The Veteran's initial claims for increased ratings were denied. The case was remanded, and some of the issues have been addressed with new evidence or actions. However, several issues remain unresolved and are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for coronary artery disease as due to Agent Orange exposure, and the case is remanded for further development regarding left knee disability and PTSD.