Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's back disorder was granted service connection. The remaining claims for various other disorders were denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for anxiety and sleep apnea due to their inextricability with the main issue, which is also being remanded. The Veteran's anxiety claim will be addressed first.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome, as the last VA examination was too old.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis with patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted service connection. A 30 percent rating, but no higher, for cervical spine disability (degenerative arthritis) and a 40 percent rating, but no higher, for lumbar spine disability (degenerative arthritis) are granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee degenerative joint disease and patellofemoral syndrome, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his active duty service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is presumed to be related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for advanced osteoarthritic changes of the right and left knees were denied as his symptoms did not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities were not permanent and total as of September 20, 2016. Therefore, the effective date for her Dependent's Education Assistance (DEA) benefits cannot be earlier than September 20, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine, left knee, and stomach conditions.

The Board has remanded several of the Veteran's claims due to new evidence not previously reviewed by the RO.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left knee disability, finding that the evidence shows arthritis with symptoms that began in service and persisted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including right knee degenerative changes, trigger finger in multiple fingers on his left hand, carpal tunnel syndrome in his left wrist, left wrist pain, and tinnitus. The reasons are that VA needs to obtain relevant medical records, provide new VA examinations or opinions regarding these conditions, and consider the Veteran's lay statements about his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee instability and chondromalacia was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show moderate or severe instability warranting a higher rating, nor did it show flexion limited to less than 45 degrees.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is being remanded due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding whether his right knee disability is caused or aggravated by his left knee disability.

The Board denied an effective date prior to September 8, 2009 for the award of service connection for right knee osteoarthritis with scars. The December 1970 rating decision denying service connection was not reversed or revised on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).

The Board denied service connection for low back and left knee disorders, finding no current diagnoses or functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examination and for submission of a VA 21-8940 form.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities which were considered static in nature reached a combined evaluation of 100 percent as of July 1, 2006. The Board found that the criteria for establishment of basic eligibility to Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits were satisfied as of this date.