Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hand disability has been granted due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. Claims for service connection for left knee pain and right knee pain remain denied.

The Veteran's GERD condition is granted a disability rating of 30 percent. The claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions are remanded due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, and bilateral knee disabilities are not attributable to active military service.

The Board has denied an increased rating for right knee instability and a compensable rating for the Veteran's right knee scar, finding that the evidence does not support ratings higher than 20 percent for these conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period prior to May 30, 2018 is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if she is unemployable due to her service-connected disabilities. The AOJ must refer the case to the Director of Compensation Services for extraschedular consideration.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastroenteritis claim must be remanded due to a lack of evidence showing current disability. The remaining issues on appeal are also remanded for additional development.

The appeal seeking service connection for a back condition and an initial rating of 10 percent for right knee instability was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee laceration scar is service-connected and warrants a rating of 10 percent. However, there is insufficient evidence to determine if his patella fracture and misalignment are related to service. The claim for this condition is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder and right knee disabilities have been denied.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder and left knee disabilities are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and denied an earlier effective date for the award of TDIU. The decision on the left knee disability claim is based on direct service connection, while the TDIU claim was granted with an effective date of October 15, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral knee osteoarthritis and low back pain with spinal stenosis, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The effective date for the TDIU is April 5, 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to March 17, 2017.

The Veteran's service-connected right wrist and left knee disabilities prevented him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment starting from June 1, 2011.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, including the earlier effective date for service connection of right knee PFS, arthrosis, and medial and lateral compartment articular cartilage defect. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is being remanded due to the need for an adequate VA opinion regarding the etiology of his current disabilities.

The Board has granted the reinstatement of the initial 20% disability rating for left knee scars prior to May 2, 2019 and the reinstatement of the 20% disability rating from May 2, 2019. The reduction in ratings was found to be improper.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for patellofemoral syndrome, right knee with Osgood Schlatter was denied. The Veteran also sought a prior effective date for the grant of service connection for his right knee disability.,The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating and denied the claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent. For the grant of service connection, the earliest effective date considered was May 4, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left shoulder, right ankle, and bilateral knee conditions are being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board will obtain examinations and opinions to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, peptic ulcer disease with GERD, and lipomas claims should be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error related to VA examinations scheduled in connection with these claims. The Veteran was provided incorrect addresses for his VA examinations, which deprived him of necessary evidence.