Knee decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities are not related to his service, either directly or secondary to a service-connected condition. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of in-service injury or disease. Secondary service connection was also denied as there is no medical opinion linking the current knee conditions to the service-connected ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. His bilateral hearing loss was rated as noncompensable, diabetes mellitus at 20 percent, right and left knee degenerative joint disease each at 10 percent, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease at 10 percent, and erectile dysfunction did not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that it was not incurred in or due to his time in service and is not proximately due to any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and remanded the issues of rating in excess of 40 percent for lumbosacral strain and TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee condition. The issue of service connection for diabetes is remanded due to inadequate opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination, and now requests another examination to determine the current level of disability for his service-connected Lyme disease residuals.

The Veteran's initial ratings for right and left knee osteoarthritis are denied. Separate 10 percent ratings are granted for right and left knee instability from July 23, 2007 and continuing thereafter. The claim for TDIU is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting an addendum opinion from the April 2019 examiner to assess the Veteran's left knee disability during the period from September 18, 2015 to April 2019.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to incomplete opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination. The issues include right knee, left ankle, right ankle, acid reflux (ulcer), and low back disorders.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's right and left knee disorders are related to his service-connected diabetes, but needs additional evidence to make a determination.

Service connection for a lumbar spine disability, arthritis, gastrointestinal disability, and brain atrophy (as a residual of TBI) is denied.,The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain the Veteran's complete service treatment records and to ensure proper notification of their unavailability. The issues of service connection for various disabilities are being remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and a right thigh disability, finding that there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities. The Board also found that any current arthritis is not related to active service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease and denied service connection for a stomach disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's continuous symptoms of arthritis since service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee meniscus tear status post surgery and TDIU due to concerns about the consistency of the February 2019 VA examiner’s findings with the lay statements regarding knee instability, flare-ups, and pain over time. The case is being returned for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, a skin condition including eczema on the inside of the knees, and migraine headaches.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective October 15, 2018. The SMC based on housebound status claim is denied.