Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain relevant medical records from private sources. The Veteran's right knee disability claim will be reviewed again with these additional records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the right knee condition existed prior to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and procedural errors, including a lack of VA examination for left leg and knee disabilities and inadequate medical opinions regarding hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of right and left knee disabilities, finding that the earliest possible effective date is September 30, 2021.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent for sleep apnea due to untimeliness. The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, asthma, sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, headaches, bilateral plantar fasciitis, sciatica, right knee disability, left knee disability, and an acquired psychiatric disability were denied.

The Veteran's claims for beneficiary travel expenses were denied because they were not submitted within the required 30-day filing deadline, despite a previous suspension of the deadline due to the COVID-19 emergency.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a left knee disability is denied as the earliest possible effective date would be December 2, 2013, which is one day after his discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since June 1, 2013.,Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits arose on June 1, 2013.

The Board has granted an annual clothing allowance for the right ankle brace used to treat service-connected right ankle degenerative joint disease (DJD) and right knee pain associated with right ankle DJD. The decision is based on the Veteran's continued use of the brace, which causes wear and tear on his clothing.

The Veteran's migraine headaches are caused by his service-connected fibromyalgia, PTSD, sleep apnea, and tinnitus.,The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is caused by his service-connected back disability with obesity as an intermediate step.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left knee replacement residuals and a left anterior knee scar was denied. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeals for various disabilities and compensation claims have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has found that additional development is necessary for the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and left knee conditions due to inadequate medical opinions. The case is being remanded for new VA medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disorders due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for left knee strain and DJD, right flat foot and first MTP joint degenerative changes, and right ankle degenerative arthritis have been granted. The appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities from June 24, 2010 to June 14, 2016 precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of his right knee, left knee, and cervical spine degenerative arthritis due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and anxiety), headache disorder, TBI, pseudofolliculitis barbae, sinusitis, left knee disability, right knee disability, and tinea versicolor of the arms, leg, chest, and face are all denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence of CTS, tinnitus, or neuropathy in the record, and the Veteran's knee and spine disabilities are rated at their maximum allowable levels.