Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right knee disability is being remanded due to an inadequate examination.,An examination by an appropriate clinician must be scheduled to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability had an in-service onset and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for back disability and right knee strain, finding that these conditions began in service and have persisted since separation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of a back and right knee disability as secondary to left knee chondromalacia due to inadequate medical opinions addressing both causation and aggravation. The Veteran's appeal is now pending again.

The appeal for higher ratings of psychiatric disability is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus, left knee disability, and melanoma of the skin is remanded.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss and right knee condition are denied as service connection is not established.,The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and degenerative arthritis of the left knee are remanded due to potential errors in assessing medication effects.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, and sleep apnea. Service connection was granted for left knee strain and right knee strain.,Service connection for cold exposure of the upper and lower extremities, as well as a collarbone disability, were not established.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability was denied as it did not have its onset in service, did not manifest within one year of discharge, and is not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability was remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current condition and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel disease, neuropathy of lower extremities, neuropathy of upper extremities, rhinitis, sinusitis, prostate cancer, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right knee condition (claimed as bilateral knee injuries), and traumatic brain injury is denied due to lack of evidence supporting the presence or relationship of these conditions to service.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for loss of use of a creative organ and sleep apnea related to an acquired psychiatric disability is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee strain, right knee strain, lumbosacral strain, and right hip strain are being remanded due to the need for VA medical opinions regarding direct service connection and efforts to obtain private treatment records.

The Board has withdrawn claims for service connection for joint pains and muscle pain. The remaining issues of service connection for right hand, left hand, left knee, seizures/tremors, immune disorder, and nerve damage are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee pain due to a lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his in-service parachute jumps and gate exit injury. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hip and knee disabilities due to a duty to assist error, requiring additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is granted as service connected due to the evidence showing it occurred during active military service.

The Veteran's travel to a VA facility on July 5, 2022 was not for treatment of a service-connected disability and he did not meet the eligibility criteria for beneficiary travel reimbursement. His income exceeded the maximum annual rate of pension he would receive under 38 U.S.C. § 1521.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.

The Veteran's appeals seeking initial ratings and service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran withdrew their appeals for service connection of left knee, right knee, and right ankle conditions.

The reduction of the rating for left knee degenerative arthritis from 20% to 10%, effective November 3, 2021, was improper and restored the original 20% rating.