Knee Board decisions

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for higher ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with spinal stenosis and right knee degenerative arthritis, effectively dismissing these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae, facial scars, right elbow arthritis, and right knee arthritis due to inadequate VA examination and missing medical records.

The Veteran's request for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for her right and left knee disabilities is denied. The VA has determined that the criteria for a rating more than 10 percent for either knee have not been met, and that the earliest effective date for these disabilities is January 12, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for left knee total replacement and a compensable rating for the associated scar was denied. The medical evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and will consider evidence not previously considered, including complaints of left knee pain and diagnoses from December 2011. The Veteran's left knee disability is being evaluated for service connection and secondary service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the right knee condition and right hand condition s/p metacarpal fracture, thus these issues are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's request for higher-level review was timely submitted, and thus the appeal is considered valid. The VA denied service connection for various conditions in a previous rating decision, but the Board found that the Veteran's submission of his request for higher-level review was timely.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for IBS is granted. The claims for right and left knee strain are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on multiple conditions has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his claims by his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of VA examinations and medical evidence. The Veteran is required to be provided with VA examinations to determine the cause of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date than September 30, 2009, for service connection of right knee strain was denied as the claims were final due to non-appeal and the current appeal challenges the finality of previous decisions.

The Board denied service connection for right knee, left knee, and lumbosacral spine disorders due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or the applicable presumptive periods.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in both right shoulder and left knee conditions, leading to the dismissal of these cases.

The Board has granted an effective date of September 20, 1996 for the assignment of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, sterility, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, and migraine have been remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence.,Claims for cervical strain, lumbar strain, right knee condition, left knee condition, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for left knee and service connection for low back condition are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, sterility, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, and migraine have been remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence.,Claims for cervical strain, lumbar strain, right knee condition, left knee condition, right upper extremity radiculopathy, left upper extremity radiculopathy, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for service-connected left knee injury with painful motion is dismissed because the Board incorrectly accepted her November 2020 VA Form 10182 (NOD) as an opt-in to the AMA review system, which resulted in both issues being docketed. The Board has re-activated the legacy appeal and will consider all relevant rating criteria for left knee injuries.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions and assigned ratings effective February 12, 2014. The appellant is eligible for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the April 2020 rating decision.

The Board has granted readjudication of the issues of service connection for left knee, right shoulder, left ankle, and right ankle disabilities. The claims are remanded due to a lack of new and relevant evidence regarding these conditions since final decisions.