Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for left knee, right knee, and lower back disabilities are remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA examinations provided were inadequate for adjudication.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 3, 2020, for a 30 percent rating for her right knee condition is denied as the increase in disability was not factually ascertainable within one year prior to either June 28, 2021 or January 3, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for vertigo, right shoulder disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability are denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability (to include major depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder) is remanded.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for syncope is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disability and a left knee disability due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's conditions are related to his service-connected right knee and left ankle disabilities, but further medical opinions are needed to address causation and aggravation.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right foot disability, and left foot disability due to incomplete medical records and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and incomplete opinions regarding service connection for various conditions. The claims will be reconsidered with additional examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance due to use of a right knee brace was denied because the Veteran is not service-connected for a right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence is approximately evenly balanced as to whether this condition began during active service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition, as secondary to his service-connected left ankle condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to deficiencies in the March 2022 VA examination and a need for additional evidence regarding the Veteran's right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain and left knee strain with chondromalacia patellae, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease leading to these conditions.

The Veteran's neck disability manifested by pain is granted as service-connected.,Tinnitus has been assigned the maximum rating authorized under the applicable diagnostic code and no higher rating can be established without a current VA reexamination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee and right hip disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran seeks service connection based on wear and tear from multiple parachute jumps in service, but the VA examinations did not fully address this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied. The cause of death claim is remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for avascular necrosis, left femoral head, feet pain, eye problems, neck disability, insomnia, right knee disability, left knee disability, and right hip disability as there is no evidence of these conditions during active duty or within a year of discharge. The Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish that any of the claimed disabilities were incurred in service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and a lumbar spine disability, finding that these conditions are etiologically related to active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including degenerative arthritis of the spine, right knee replacement post-operative, left total knee replacement, and radiculopathies, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU on schedular basis.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart murmur has been dismissed.,Service connection is granted for unspecified depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, sleep apnea, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to an error in providing notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing.