Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board remands the claims for an increased disability rating and TDIU due to inadequate VA examination reports.

The Veteran's service-connected knee, hip and feet disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to an injury sustained during active duty.

The Board granted service connection for recurrent moderate major depressive disorder as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected plantar fasciitis, pseudofolliculitis barbae residual anterior neck scars, and right eye corneal scars.

The Board granted earlier effective dates for service connection and initial ratings for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II, bilateral knee amputation with peripheral vascular disease, chronic microvascular ischemia, chronic kidney disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and bilateral diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, which is secondary to his right knee disability. Service connection for coronary artery disease and hypertension have been dismissed as there was a concurrent appeal pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression), PTSD, a back condition, high blood pressure, a hip condition, a left knee condition, skin cancer of the right arm, and sciatica are remanded due to failure to conduct VA examinations as scheduled.

The Board remands the claim for a left knee condition, to include as secondary to a right knee condition, for further development and an adequate VA examination.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis is granted a separate 10 percent rating, and his meniscal tear remains at a 10 percent rating. The decision does not address service connection theory or exposure basis.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the Veteran's right knee disability and remanded the low back disability claim for further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection of various joint disabilities have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are being remanded due to errors in the duty to assist and regulatory requirements. The Board finds that additional development is needed, particularly regarding medical opinions related to exposure to burn pits.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his left knee condition is remanded due to the need for additional medical records.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome with depressive features, and right knee chondromalacia patella with spurring. The decision is based on multiple medical opinions that support a nexus between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his current obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that new evidence supports a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided were inadequate, particularly regarding the nature and origin of the Veteran's right knee condition. The Board also found that a new medical opinion is necessary to determine if any left knee conditions are related to service or to the Veteran's pre-existing right knee condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left wrist disability, right hand disability, lumbar spine disability, and residual scar, lumbar spine surgery were dismissed as the Veteran did not timely file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) or VA Form 10182 within one year from the date of notification letters.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right hand disability was also dismissed because she failed to timely file a VA Form 10182 after the September 2019 decision. ,The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability and right knee disability were dismissed as well, due to her failure to timely file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) or VA Form 10182 within one year from the date of notification letters.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma was granted in an April 2024 rating decision and is considered fully granted, thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in balance as to whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is due to his service-connected knee disabilities. As such, the benefit of doubt has been given to the Veteran and service connection for OSA secondary to his knee disabilities has been granted.