Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's compression fracture of lumbar vertebra is related to an in-service accident and service connection has been granted.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and right knee condition secondary to left knee ligamentous strain are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions and records are needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection. The claims have been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral hands arthritis, and residuals of a left thumb injury. The decision is based on the Veteran's lay assertions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability was granted, effective from June 23, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee meniscus tear status post arthroscopy and migraine headaches, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to her active service.

The Veteran's tinnitus disability is rated at the maximum schedular rating of 10 percent, and all manifestations are adequately considered under his schedular ratings.,There is no persuasive evidence that the Veteran's left knee strain or sprain, right knee strain or sprain, lower back strain (lumbosacral strain), or migraines began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of TBI and has not had one at any time during the pendency of the claim or recent to the filing of the claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss and tinnitus, prevent him from securing or following any substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that a combined effects opinion is necessary to sufficiently address the Veteran's claim for TDIU.

The Board has granted the Appellant's petitions to readjudicate his previously denied claims for service connection for right and left knee arthritis, as well as for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claim for service connection for lumbar spine disability is remanded due to a lack of STRs.

The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral shoulder disabilities. The back disability claim was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as he did not meet the criteria for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a June 2024 rating decision. The appellant is not entitled to fees because the initial decision granting past-due benefits was not reviewed by an attorney or agent.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied.,The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing service records, specifically those related to the Veteran's National Guard duty. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and provide a VA medical opinion regarding whether the current left knee disability is related to any inservice injury.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's depressive disorder, with depressive features, melancholic features, and anxious distress, as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee strain. The decision is based on a finding of equipoise in the evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for left lower extremity neuropathy, left knee condition, and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence in some cases.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbosacral spine degenerative disc disease, left knee chondromalacia, and right knee chondromalacia due to new evidence submitted since the last denial.

The Veteran's request for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The Board also granted the Veteran's requests to readjudicate previously denied claims for service connection of left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee disabilities.,The Veteran's claim for PTSD is remanded due to the need to verify an in-service stressor.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left and right knee degenerative arthritis due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's current disabilities are not established, and thus his claims for service connection must be denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as incurred in service. The right knee, kidney condition, anemia, and dyspnea claims are remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from October 12, 2016 to November 12, 2018 and from January 1, 2019 to July 22, 2019 due to service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following any substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of July 13, 2018, for the award of service connection for right knee scars and right knee disability. The appeal is based on a direct finding without any presumption or secondary linkage to another condition.