Knee Board decisions

The Board has found that the Veteran's notice of disagreement was timely received via facsimile on June 24, 2014. The appeal is now remanded for further development regarding whether new and material evidence was obtained to reopen service connection claims for various conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability is rated at 20 percent, and he is granted a TDIU effective December 12, 2016. The Board finds that the Veteran meets the schedular requirements for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the evaluations of service connection for bilateral foot, low back, bilateral hip, and bilateral knee disabilities. However, these claims are currently REMANDED as additional medical opinions are needed due to the Veteran's assertions regarding his conditions being aggravated by service.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, bilateral knee disability, and right elbow disability have been dismissed due to his death.

The claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss, right knee condition (previously claimed as leg condition), hypertension, and right carpal tunnel syndrome were denied. The claim for service connection of the right ankle condition was remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee, left knee, left shoulder, right shoulder, right ankle, and left ankle conditions. The claims are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, pes planus (claimed as flat feet), Morton's Neuroma, and plantar fasciitis.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and examination, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the Veteran's right shoulder condition and left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee disability, tinnitus, acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), and bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete information regarding the Veteran's military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inextricably intertwined issues with her low back condition. The claims will be remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board dismissed all claims except the one seeking an earlier effective date for TDIU, which was granted with a September 17, 2013 effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examination and requests for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and left knee disability render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's right ankle disability prior to September 24, 2019. The claim is denied for higher ratings for the right ankle and knee disabilities after that date.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The rating for the acquired psychiatric disorder was not higher than 70% prior to June 16, 2014, and the ratings for both left and right knee disabilities remain at 20%. Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is also remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected left knee disability, which prevents him from working in his chosen field as an anesthesiologist.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period of June 23, 2008 to February 4, 2011 was denied as he did not meet the schedular requirements. For the period of February 4, 2011 to August 12, 2013, TDIU was granted due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for left shoulder, low back, and left knee disabilities. The claims for epididymitis and testicular pain, right shoulder disability, right knee disability, and gastrointestinal disability (to include irritable bowel syndrome) are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of diverticular bleed and left knee disability for further development due to incomplete records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disability ratings as there is insufficient evidence regarding functional loss during flare-ups and instability.