Knee Board decisions

The veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection for various conditions, including right thumb deformity and pain, dental and oral numbness/tingling, lower back pain, a bilateral hip condition, left knee pain, right knee pain, polycystic ovarian syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder, migraines, ringing in the ears, a spine disability, and sleep apnea.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an initial rating higher than 30 percent for a left total knee arthroplasty due to a duty to assist error regarding outstanding private medical records.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD was withdrawn by the Veteran's attorney, and the claim is dismissed. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left knee condition is remanded for further development.

The rejection letters issued on November 25, 2022, July 18, 2023, and March 27, 2024, are void. The Veteran's claims for initial separate ratings in excess of 10 percent for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, entitlement to initial separate 10 percent ratings for bilateral knee instability, a non-initial rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, an earlier effective date, and TDIU have been remanded.

The Board granted service connection for left knee instability and remanded the claims for lumbar spine disability, right foot disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back condition, bilateral neuropathy, knee condition, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, asthma, hypertension, fatigue condition and an acquired psychological disorder, to obtain additional evidence.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a need for additional medical evidence.

The Board granted service connection for a left knee meniscal tear, resolving doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claim for multiple sclerosis was remanded due to unavailability of private treatment records.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection of lumbosacral strain, right knee strain (flexion and extension), and migraines, with an effective date of May 10, 2022.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, rectal bleeding, irritable bowel syndrome, flat foot, left ankle disorder, and right knee disorder.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee condition based on aggravation of a preexisting disability, but denied service connection for a cervical spine condition.

The Board remands the claims for a higher rating for left and right knee strains to obtain additional evidence regarding the severity of these disabilities.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal for service connection and initial rating claims.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including a 70% rating for depressive disorder and bilateral foot disorders, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of January 30, 2019.

The Board dismissed the veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and denied an increased rating for erectile dysfunction, while granting a reduced rating for prostate cancer residuals.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, left shoulder disability, and hearing loss as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder, right lower extremity varicose veins, left lower extremity varicose veins, and did not grant a rating higher than 20 percent for a right ankle fracture with osteoarthritis or any of the other remanded claims.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a 50 percent rating for left knee osteoarthritis, while denying increased ratings for left knee instability and left lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran based on chronic symptoms during service and manifestations within one year after discharge.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for a bilateral knee condition, disability manifested by joint pain, claimed as polyarthritis, and low back disorder to obtain additional medical opinions.