Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's left knee DJD arthritis is rated at 10 percent, but no higher. A separate rating of 10 percent for left knee instability is granted from August 11, 2014 through August 7, 2018, and a rating of 20 percent is granted since August 8, 2018.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions including left shoulder, neck, back, hip, foot, knee, esophageal (GERD), ankle, psychiatric (PTSD), and heart disorders. The Board found that these conditions were not related to active duty service.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and opinions are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the complexity of his conditions and the need to consider all relevant evidence, including statements from those who served with him.

The Board has remanded the cases for further review due to insufficient medical evidence and procedural errors.

The Veteran's skin condition, diagnosed as moles, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a connection between the condition and his military service.,Service connection for left shoulder disability (osteoarthritis and torn rotator cuff) is denied because there is no evidence of arthritis during active duty or within one year after separation from active duty. The Veteran's current diagnosis occurred over ten years post-service.,Service connection for right shoulder disability (osteoarthritis and torn rotator cuff) is denied due to lack of evidence showing a connection between the condition and his military service. The Veteran's current diagnosis also occurred over ten years post-service.,Service connection for left knee disability (osteoarthritis) is denied because there is no evidence of arthritis during active duty or within one year after separation from active duty. The Veteran's current diagnosis occurred over ten years post-service.,Service connection for right knee disability (osteoarthritis) is denied as the first record of arthritis was over ten years after the Veteran's last period of active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his service-connected lumbar arthritis, radiculopathy, right knee DJD, and left knee DJD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder due to a lack of VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate VA examinations and need for additional opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disability, right heel spur, and service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than March 10, 2017 for the increased rating of 30 percent for right shoulder impingement syndrome and remanded the issues of entitlement to increased ratings for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance for specially adapted housing is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to independently ambulate.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee disabilities, including strain and residuals from November 2010 meniscal surgery, as well as for residuals of a left rib cage injury with pain and functional loss. The decision is based on the presumption that these conditions are related to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to the need for a more contemporaneous examination of his service-connected lumbar spine, right hip, right ankle, and right knee disabilities. The issues include increased evaluations for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Veteran was gainfully employed during the period prior to January 4, 2012. Therefore, a TDIU for this period is denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee and right ankle disabilities, as well as a separate rating for symptomatic removal of semilunar cartilage in the left knee, were all denied by the Board. The Veteran was not granted any higher disability ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee condition. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right knee condition, including osteoarthritis and residuals of meniscus tear.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen claims for service connection of left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities was granted. The appeals for bilateral hip disabilities are also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that the Veteran's current condition did not manifest within one year of separation and was not related to his military service.,The Board also denied service connection for residuals of a concussion (including migraine headaches and dizziness), concluding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection are remanded due to new evidence being added to the file, and the Veteran wants the RO to review this evidence first.