Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues with service connection for a right knee disability and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to failure to address favorable evidence of secondary service connection and noncompliance with prior remand directives regarding the Veteran's pes planus disability. The case is now returned for further consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition due to conflicting opinions and lack of clarity on pre-service conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable, effective May 19, 2008. The Board has granted a TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's claims for higher rating and TDIU have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions did not have their onset during active service or within a year of separation, and thus denied service connection for all of his knee, ankle, foot, hip, shoulder, and cervical spine disorders.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for right knee disability was denied, and his service connection claims for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia were remanded.,Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia will be addressed again after further review of the evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete STRs and need for additional medical opinions. The issues include right knee, left knee, psychiatric disability (including PTSD), skin condition, asthma or respiratory condition, headache condition, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of a lumbar spine disability and left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA forms from the Veteran's last employer and private treatment records. The case will also be examined to assess the current severity of the Veteran’s back, neck, and knee disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examination and incomplete evidence. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to address both his right and left knee disabilities, considering secondary theories of entitlement.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for rhinitis has been denied as there was no prior claim received before February 23, 2012.,The Veteran's initial rating for rhinitis is also denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his left and right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that his conditions warrant ratings higher than the currently assigned 10 percent and 20 percent disability evaluations prior to December 3, 2019 and from December 3, 2019 respectively.

The Veteran is granted a higher level of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p) based on his ischemic heart disease and other service-connected disabilities, but not for the need for aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the claim for a higher rating for right knee patellar femoral pain syndrome due to deficiencies in the July 2019 VA examination report. The Veteran is required to provide additional evidence and undergo another VA examination.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, with the decision being on an extraschedular basis.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The right and left knee disability claims are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a medical opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with its prior remand directives, specifically regarding a determination on direct causation for the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and opinion, including service connection claims related to various musculoskeletal conditions, hearing loss, vision loss, and skin conditions. The heart condition claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current heart condition or any relationship to service.