Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for PTSD and an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for irritable bowel syndrome. The claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a higher rating for lumbosacral strain prior to June 24, 2016, were also denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, which required replacement surgery, likely had its onset during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an adequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, as well as to address his theory of service connection for aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are related to his service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a right knee disability. The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the etiology of any current right knee disability and whether it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to evaluate the current severity of his service-connected right knee and right shoulder disabilities. The TDIU claim is also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and degenerative joint disease of the right knee was denied. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has been rated as noncompensable, while his right knee degenerative joint disease was initially rated as noncompensable but later increased to 10 percent effective September 23, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. The Board has remanded the case to the AOJ for further action, including a decision on the appellant's request for substitution.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a right knee disability related to his military service and therefore, denies the claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and found that the Veteran's right knee joint pain is related to service. The issue of an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for service connected lumbar spine strain remains pending.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the increased rating claims for lumbar spine disability and left knee disability, prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of any diagnosed right knee or shin condition, as the previous examination was inadequate. The Veteran's service treatment records indicate an incident in which he struck his shin while climbing a ladder off ship in Antarctica, but there is insufficient evidence linking this injury to his current symptoms.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims of increased ratings for his right knee disabilities and reopening of his back disability claim are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis, status post total arthroplasty, is related to his active service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The case is REMANDED to obtain SSA records, VA treatment records, and an opinion regarding whether any current left knee disability arose in service or is otherwise related to service.