Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities are being remanded for a new VA examination and to obtain all relevant treatment records, including those from the private sector where he underwent several surgeries.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disorders, finding the evidence to be in equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for right shoulder, bilateral elbow, left hip, right knee, left groin, and neck disabilities due to inadequate examination reports. The Veteran should be afforded Gulf War examinations and VA medical opinions.

The Veteran's shin splints and right knee degenerative joint disease with knee joint osteoarthritis are not service-connected, and her request for a compensable rating for scars associated with the knee disability is denied. Her claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities is granted.

The Board has remanded the claim of a rating higher than 70 percent for the period starting from May 1, 2018. The Veteran's left hip disability is also under consideration.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee, cervical spine, and bilateral shoulder disabilities are remanded. The claim for an effective date prior to April 27, 2018, for the grant of service connection for a right shoulder disability is denied.

The Board has dismissed the service connection for left elbow lateral epicondylitis (left elbow condition) as it was granted in an October 2023 rating decision. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a right knee condition are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's tuberculosis claim is dismissed. Service connection for low back disability, bilateral sciatic and femoral radiculopathies, and right knee disability are granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a right knee disability due to potential issues with the reliability of the medical opinions provided and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's right and left knee instability ratings have been restored to 10 percent effective November 1, 2019.,The reduction in the rating for bilateral hearing loss from 10 percent to noncompensable was proper. The appeal for restoration of a 10 percent rating is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss, back disability, degenerative arthritis of the left and right ankles, as well as right and left knee disabilities have all been denied. The evidence does not support a compensable evaluation for any of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and bilateral knee and ankle conditions, finding that the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder caused or aggravated these conditions through obesity as an intermediate step. The rating assigned is 10 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee and shin disabilities, finding that the Veteran's symptoms began during service and have continued since then.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to incomplete compliance with previous directives and additional VA examinations are needed.

The Board has dismissed all claims for service connection due to the Veteran's timely filing of a Decision Review Request (DRR) opting into the Appeals Modernization Act, which allows for dismissal of appeals.

The Board denied service connection for back, neck, left knee, and left shoulder disabilities as there is no current evidence of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and unclear onset of his claimed disabilities. He is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if he currently has diagnosed disabilities that are related to his in-service duties.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination to assess the current severity of his conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, which involved multiple issues including service connection and a rating for an adjustment disorder. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee, left knee, and stomach conditions due to a lack of evidence showing current disabilities or a link between in-service events and these conditions.