Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new examination is required.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his GERD and OSA, as well as a VA examination for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, right knee degenerative arthritis, and left knee osteoarthritis. The AOJ will consider any new evidence submitted during this process.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, headaches, hernia disability, sleep apnea, bruxism, left knee disability, right knee disability, and left shoulder disability. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or in-service events that would support these claims.

The Veteran's back, right knee, and sinusitis disabilities are remanded for further medical opinions to determine if they were aggravated by service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability, finding that it is caused by his service-connected left knee disability and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, specifically whether it is secondary to a service-connected disability or caused by obesity. The examiner must provide opinions on both causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including right ankle and left knee conditions, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence of an injury or disease during active duty or reserve training that caused or aggravated his current condition.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 50 percent rating for bilateral pes planus with plantar fasciitis is dismissed due to procedural issues.,Earlier effective dates of February 8, 2006 are granted for service connection for syncope and left and right knee strains.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection have been denied as there is no evidence of a right knee meniscal condition or instability prior to May 14, 2019. The cases are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal in its entirety, requesting the immediate withdrawal of all issues on appeal including unspecified depressive disorder with insomnia disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral shoulder condition (previously diagnosed as left acromioclavicular joint separation and right pectoralis tendon rupture), and right knee condition.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and a compensable rating for scars on his right knee have been dismissed due to the Veteran's request to withdraw these issues.

The Veteran's right knee disability, specifically arthritis, is granted as service-connected due to continuity of symptoms since retirement and the presumption of service connection for arthritis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused his current condition. The Board also found no secondary service connection as the left knee disability did not cause or aggravate the right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation due to hospitalization because the hospitalization did not exceed 21 days, even when combining both hospitalizations at Harris Regional Hospital and Mission Hospital.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including right and left ankle arthralgia, a sleep disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, left shoulder osteoarthritis, right knee disability, right hip OA, left hip OA, cervical spine disability, and hearing loss have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.,The Veteran's claims were remanded for further action on his hypertension and GERD/hiatal hernia.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his left knee disability due to a duty to assist error, specifically failing to obtain the Veteran's Social Security Administration records.

The Board has granted an effective date of May 29, 2015 for the award of service connection for a right knee scar. The decision is based on secondary service connection as the scar is related to the Veteran's service-connected right knee meniscus and ACL tear residuals with osteoarthritis.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for right knee limitation of extension and a 30 percent rating for sinusitis, both effective December 13, 2023. The decision is based on the appellant's timely appeals filed under the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability is at least as likely as not related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for a right knee disability.