Knee Board decisions

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of a bilateral knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders (schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder), back disorder, and neck disorder. The Board found that additional development is needed prior to adjudication.

The Veteran's use of VA-issued right wrist and bilateral knee braces caused excessive wear and tear on his clothing, warranting the award of clothing allowances for 2014.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher initial ratings for his left shoulder disability, left knee limitation of flexion, PTSD prior to November 5, 2019, or back disability.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for higher disability ratings and an earlier effective date due to inadequate examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's right knee meniscectomy disability is granted a 20 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The Veteran's prior claims for increased ratings for traumatic arthritis are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating higher than 10 percent for both right and left knee disabilities. The decision was based on the findings that the veteran's knee disorders did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to August 3, 2021.

The Veteran's service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The left knee and left ankle disabilities are remanded as the criteria for increased ratings have not been met.

The Veteran's claim for a separate rating for left tibia and fibula impairment is granted, with an evaluation of 30 percent effective August 20, 2024.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain all of the Veteran's service treatment records, particularly those from Subic Bay in the Philippines. The claim will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diverticulosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer, low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,VA examinations were found to be insufficient in addressing the Veteran's claims.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection and rating due to a procedural error in determining the validity of the substitute appellant.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right knee instability was granted, with a rating of 20% from May 9, 2006 to February 7, 2021. The claim for a higher rating after February 7, 2021 was denied.

The Board remanded the veteran's claims for service connection of left knee disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for the veteran's left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, and right knee disorder. The evidence did not show these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury or disease.

The veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for left and right hand scarring were denied. The appeals for service connection for various conditions, including left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and bilateral hand conditions (other than scarring), as well as a 10 percent evaluation based on multiple noncompensable disabilities, were remanded.

The veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to their service-connected right knee strain and bilateral pes planus disabilities with obesity as an intermediate step, is granted.

The veteran's appeals for service connection for chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus type II were dismissed because the veteran withdrew them. The appeals for left knee disability and migraines were remanded for further evaluation.

The veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 30% rating of service-connected scars on the right knee was granted, with an effective date no earlier than September 21, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder is denied. The claims for service connection for a left knee disorder and pes planus are remanded for further evaluation.