Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU was awarded effective November 3, 2020. The Board finds that there has been a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in failing to consider a TDIU prior to this date and refers the matter for extra-schedular consideration.

The Veteran's increased ratings for left knee disability and right knee degenerative arthritis were denied. The effective date is not specified as the decision only addresses the denial of the claims.

The Board has granted service connection for left total knee arthroplasty and right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's disabilities resulted from injuries sustained during his active duty training (ADT).

The Board has remanded the claims for a back disability, right ankle disability, and right and left knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the current record. The Veteran's service connection claim remains denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's OSA symptoms began during active service and the Board finds that the criteria for service connection are met.,The Veteran's right knee strain and meniscal tear were related to in-service injury, and the Board finds that the criteria for service connection are met.,The issue of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability other than Right Knee Strain and Right Knee Meniscal Tear is remanded due to need for additional medical examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple orthopedic and psychiatric conditions are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination for service connection of the Veteran's right knee condition. The claim must be returned for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, including asthma and COPD. The Veteran's current diagnosis of asthma and COPD was noted in VA records.,Service connection for the left knee disability was also denied. The Veteran reported symptoms but no specific diagnosis or treatment was provided during service.

The Board has denied service connection for right cubital tunnel syndrome, rib disability, right ankle disability, and right knee disability as these conditions are not shown to have had their onset during the Veteran's period of honorable service from July 28, 2003 through September 6, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee strain, claiming it as arthritis and instability, due to a lack of evidence linking his current disability to his active service or any service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations for all remaining disorders are inadequate and requires a new examination to determine their etiology. The Veteran's service treatment records document an auto accident in June 1980, which may be associated with his current conditions.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remanded the case for further development. The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, which is secondary to his already service-connected bilateral knee disability, needs to be reconsidered with an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has found the medical opinions inadequate and has ordered a new VA examination to determine if any bilateral knee pain is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the service connection for left knee condition, right knee condition, and low back condition. The Board will seek additional opinions to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and medical opinion obtained prior to the March 5, 2021 rating decision on appeal were inadequate due to a failure to address positive evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee symptoms. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee condition, finding that there is no nexus between his current disability and his in-service injury.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disability, left knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active military service.,There is no credible medical evidence linking any current right or left knee disabilities to service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are less likely than not related to her in-service duties.

The Board found that the withholding of VA disability compensation benefits for 36 days of drill pay in FY 2020 was proper and denied the Veteran's appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sinusitis was denied as there is no persuasive evidence that the condition began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee tendonitis were also denied. The Board found that the current flexion and extension limitations do not warrant a higher rating under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal requires remand due to duty-to-assist errors in previous VA examinations and evaluations. The issues of increased ratings for left knee disability, a compensable rating for left knee scar, service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, and TDIU are all remanded.