Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for left wrist, right knee, left knee, right ankle, and left ankle disabilities has been received. However, further development is needed as there are pre-decisional duty to assist errors in the current examination reports.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, particularly regarding secondary service connection. The claims for cervical spine disability and associated radiculopathy, lumbar spine disability, bilateral hip disabilities, and migraine headaches are being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for his left and right knee surgical scars have been dismissed as a matter of law.,The Veteran's requests for compensable evaluations for his left and right knee surgical scars were denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnoses and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of April 1, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee arthritis, but the claims for right knee arthritis and osteoarthritis of both hips are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's injury to his right hand, index finger. The other claims have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for left knee osteoarthritis, including consideration of a separate rating for left knee instability, is remanded due to a duty to assist error. The examination must be conducted to determine the severity of the service-connected left knee osteoarthritis in connection with the partial left knee meniscus tear and whether it is related to the Veteran's service-connected condition.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of February 4, 2019 for the Veteran's service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Veteran was previously denied this claim in May 2019 and appealed it.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, anxiety condition, asthma (shortness of breath), obstructive sleep apnea, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, and left hip condition have all been denied. The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee condition and right knee condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is granted. The Board also remanded the claims of entitlement to increased ratings for bilateral knee arthritis due to a lack of recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee conditions and TDIU due to inadequate prior examinations and further development is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors.,Specifically, the VA examiners did not provide sufficient rationale for their conclusions regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and bilateral knee disabilities were denied because the claims were not filed on the proper forms, and thus they could not be readjudicated.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, finding that his current conditions are more likely than not caused by an in-service parachute injury.

The Board granted service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee condition. The Veteran's obesity was not found to be a compensable disability. Service connection was denied for jaw condition, skin condition (claimed as athletes' foot), bilateral hearing loss, ED secondary to PTSD, TBI, migraine headaches, residual scar of the head/scalp, scar of the lower back, and right shoulder and right foot scars.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a mental health condition, right knee conditions, and a right foot big toe or toenail condition is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an eye condition, major depressive disorder (MDD), and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome. The evidence did not meet the criteria for establishing these conditions as incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee strain due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is believed to be related to injuries he sustained while playing basketball and football in 1973 during his active-duty Marine service.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of April 13, 2021 for the grant of service connection for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome (left knee disability), rated at 10 percent disabling.