Knee Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU as they are not within its jurisdiction due to the Veteran's election to pursue review under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) Supplemental Claim system.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his explicit withdrawal of the appeal with full understanding of the consequences.

The claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral foot disorder, depression and anxiety (psychiatric disability), left knee disability, and tinnitus have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. These claims are now remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for further development. The Board finds no basis for granting any of the requested benefits.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including increased ratings for right shoulder and arm conditions, thumb, ring, and little finger conditions, and right shoulder scars. The issue of service connection for a right knee disorder secondary to lumbar spine disability is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an initial rating greater than 10 percent for his right hip and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations in September 2014 and May 2019, which did not comply with the requirements of Correia v. McDonald (38 C.F.R. § 4.59) and Sharp v. Shulkin (29 Vet. App. 26).

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected left knee injury, bilateral fracture of the angle of mandible and trismus (spasms of jaw), and right wrist/forearm injuries are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The issues of service connection for these conditions remain unresolved.

The Veteran's degenerative changes of the left knee, right knee, lumbar spine strain, and right shoulder sprain have all been rated at 10 percent since November 2000. The Board has denied increased ratings for each condition.,The Veteran requested a new VA examination in July 2007 to determine if his conditions warranted higher ratings. However, the RO continued the current ratings of 10 percent without scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to April 24, 2014 was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU and his service-connected conditions alone or in combination did not preclude him from securing or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right knee condition, but denied the underlying claim as there is no evidence that the current condition began during or was otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability. The initial compensable rating claim for left rib fracture residuals is remanded.

The issues of service connection for chronic right and left knee disabilities have been dismissed. Service connection has been granted for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability (including major depression and PTSD), but the remaining issues related to GERD, IBS, ulcerative colitis, and gastroenteritis are remanded.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus due to in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including major depression and PTSD, is also service-connected based on a verified stressor.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's pre-existing left knee disability was aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected chronic subjective dizziness associated with PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for lower back condition, numbness in upper extremities, neck pain, muscle fatigue and stiffness, cervical radiculopathy (carpal tunnel syndrome), left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral foot pain have been dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for a headache disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and insomnia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, shoulder disorders, foot disorders, knee disorders, and hearing loss. The issues are related to whether these conditions had their onset during active duty or are otherwise etiologically related to such service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for migraine headaches, seizure disorder, right knee condition, and bilateral leg condition as new and material evidence was not received.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (DM) has been reopened and granted. The TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding DM.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and lack of adequate medical opinions. The claims will be reviewed again with new examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee disability and remanded the TDIU claim until his knee disabilities have been rated.