Knee decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that VA examinations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of various conditions, including low back and cervical spine disorders, shoulder disorders, knee disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, GERD, TBI, headaches, and hand tremors. The Veteran's service records show in-service accidents and injuries, but further medical evaluation is required to establish a connection between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examiner's opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his obstructive sleep apnea is inadequate. The case is therefore being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for degenerative arthritis of the spine, left knee, and right knee are denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within the applicable presumptive period.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied due to lack of continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Board denied service connection for right forearm, ankle, and knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing aggravation during service. The Veteran's preexisting conditions were not aggravated by service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of low back disability, right knee disability, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, left knee (claimed as degenerative joint disease), and chronic bronchitis. However, it granted service connection for a traumatic brain injury.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for an extraschedular consideration based on sleep impairment.

The Board denied service connection for obesity (claimed as weight problems) due to the lack of a disability for which service connection can be granted.,Service connection was also denied for right hand disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. The Board found no evidence of an in-service injury or disease that led to these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral shin splints, bilateral knee disability (to include as secondary to bilateral shin splints), low back disability (to include as secondary to bilateral shin splints), bilateral hip disability (to include as secondary to bilateral shin splints), right shoulder condition, and upper back/neck disability have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's service connection claims are currently pending on a secondary basis to his previously denied claims of bilateral shin splints.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including a low back disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, bilateral pes planus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD). The VA treatment records from April 2013 to the present must be obtained. A VA examination will also be conducted to determine the etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate examination findings and incomplete medical records. The Veteran's knee disabilities, including left knee injury, right knee strain, and left knee instability, are in need of further evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his right knee disability.

The Veteran's right total knee replacement was granted a disability rating of 60 percent effective July 11, 2017. The appeal is denied for ratings in excess of the assigned ratings.

The Veteran's right knee and coronary artery disease are granted service connection, but the left knee disability is remanded for further examination. The effective date of service connection remains October 19, 2009.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability and right knee disability due to incomplete development of records, including VA treatment records and deck logs from USS Valdez. The Veteran is also entitled to a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted, and he is now rated at 50% for his unspecified trauma stressor-related disorder.,Service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and right knee degenerative arthritis have also been remanded by the Board.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed for the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities due to incomplete range of motion testing and a lack of current examination. The claims are being remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, but has remanded both issues due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are now moot.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.