Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to his military service and remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal regarding the validity of his June 21, 2017 VA Form 9 is granted. The Board finds that due to the superseding POA filed by a Veteran Service Organization (VSO), the time limit for filing a valid VA Form 9 was equitably tolled and the Veteran is provided with 90 days from the date of this decision to provide VA with a valid VA Form 9 to the May 2017 SOC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for effective dates are granted, but has also found that additional development is needed to address the severity of his knee conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is granted. The claims for right elbow, left elbow, right knee, and left knee disorders are remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear hearing loss is denied. The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss, right knee disability, and left ankle disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's right knee conditions, specifically regarding the ameliorative effects of medications used for pain management. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, finding that these conditions began in service and have continued since.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance due to his back and associated radiculopathy disabilities, which require assistance with activities such as bathing, dressing, transferring, housekeeping, and meal preparation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for the remaining conditions are denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has determined that the VA rating decision on appeal did not address the Veteran's increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities, and thus remanded these issues.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left ear hearing loss, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), diverticulitis with residuals status post resection of large intestine, and right knee disability due to insufficient evidence or procedural errors.

The appeals regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right foot plantar fasciitis, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), left ankle sprain, right shoulder arthritis, degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, and left knee condition are dismissed.,The appeals regarding service connection for right shoulder arthritis and right knee condition are granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The case will be reviewed with a new examination.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed due to the Veteran withdrawing his claims during a Board hearing.,The Veteran was granted service connection for left and right hip disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability has been remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board finds that the submitted private evaluation report provides a positive nexus opinion in support of his claim.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for a compensable evaluation for service-connected hypertension and for service connection for atrial fibrillation, skin cancer, hyperhidrosis, left knee condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, right shoulder condition, and left shoulder condition due to procedural errors in filing.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU.

The Board finds that there are pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in this case and requires VA examinations and opinions to cure the errors. The Veteran's claims for PTSD, left leg and knee condition, left shoulder condition, left wrist condition, right knee condition, right shoulder condition, right wrist condition, and erectile dysfunction are pending.

The Veteran's right knee disability is found to have resulted from his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, right knee strain, and left knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing the etiology of these conditions.