Knee Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for cold injury residuals of the bilateral hands, left knee disability, right knee disability, and right shoulder disability. The decision also remanded the issues of service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claim for VR&E services, including a doctoral degree in osteopathic medicine, is remanded due to the need for a new vocational rehabilitation evaluation considering his current symptomatology and employment capabilities.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of left knee disability prior to February 7, 2014 was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected heart condition was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Service connection for gout, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and genitourinary system disability were all denied due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient notification for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran is required to be provided another opportunity for an examination.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and upper extremity disorders, as well as his respiratory disorder (to include bronchitis), are on appeal. The Board has ordered additional VA examinations to determine the etiology of these conditions based on service connection theories including direct service connection, chronic undiagnosed illnesses, and medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a right knee disability was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, asthma, right knee, and neck conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current disabilities and active duty service.,Service connection was not granted because the medical records do not show any in-service injury or disease that could be linked to the current conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder and physical conditions like lumbar sprain, left hip bursitis, tinnitus, and right knee condition, have rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Veteran's left knee condition is rated at 20 percent prior to November 26, 2019 and 10 percent thereafter. The right knee condition is rated at 10 percent from November 26, 2019 onwards.

The Veteran's claims for initial evaluations of his service-connected disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and development.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent prior to June 22, 2019, and 40 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not meet criteria for higher ratings based on recurrent subluxation or lateral instability, flexion limited to 30 degrees, extension limited to 15 degrees, or ankylosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including vertigo, right and left wrist disorders, sleep disorder, right shoulder disorder, lumbar spine disorder, cervical spine disorder, right hip disorder, left hip disorder, actinic keratosis, nasal polyps, squamous cell carcinoma, acquired psychiatric disorder (adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety disorder), eye disorder (vitreous syneresis, floaters, panniculi), right knee disorder, left knee disorder, hernia, pulmonary hypertension, and allergic rhinitis have been denied. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically whether it is related to service. The case will be returned for further development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU from June 26, 2019 is granted. The Board also remanded several issues including the rating of genu recurvatum and knee degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of left knee osteoarthritis, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination due to evidence suggesting worsening of symptoms since the last VA examinations.

The Board dismissed the appeal for entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claim. The remaining issues (bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle disorder, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder) are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and failure to obtain private treatment records from Dr. Junick, as well as for a new VA examination of the Veteran's left knee condition.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.