Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. Service connection is granted.,Service connection for PTSD is granted, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's right shoulder, right knee, and headache disorders are granted service connection. The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, lumbar spine disorder, lower extremity disorder (to include radiculopathy), and bilateral hip disorders are remanded for further examination.

The Board has found that the remand directives have not been substantially accomplished and requires further development for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left foot, left knee, and psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his service-connected left and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board has also remanded the matters regarding service connection for low back, left hip, and right hip disabilities, as well as TDIU prior to April 4, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for hypertension, left knee arthritis, and right knee arthritis was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 7101, while her bilateral knee disabilities were evaluated based on limitation of motion.

The Board has decided to remand the service connection claims for right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding secondary service connection. A new VA examination is required to determine if the Veteran's back disability and lower extremity neuropathies caused or aggravated his knee conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current knee disorders and diabetes mellitus. The claims for service connection for hypertension, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and diabetes mellitus are REMANDED.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to outstanding service treatment records and the need for further medical examinations.

The Veteran's TDIU claim for left knee disability was denied as the evidence did not show that his service-connected condition rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for a right knee disability was denied, and his lumbar spine disability was granted a 20% rating effective June 18, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for non-degenerative arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis is denied.,Service connection is granted for bilateral hallux valgus, bilateral degenerative arthritis of the feet, and hammer toe of the left foot second toe as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II. ,Service connection is granted for osteoarthritis of the bilateral knees as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II.,The Veteran's claim for gout, other than gout of the fingers and thumbs remains pending due to lack of evidence regarding its onset in service or herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's claim for hammer toes other than the second toe of the left foot is remanded for further examination.,The Veteran's claim for a thoracolumbar spine disorder, to include arthritis, is remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for a neck disorder, left shoulder disorder, and left knee disorder. The case is remanded for further development regarding the left ankle disorder.,Service connection was also denied for a left hip disorder in this decision.

The Veteran's bilateral knee joint pain and headaches are presumed to be related to his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, as he served during the Persian Gulf War.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for right thumb degenerative joint disease is denied. The issues of entitlement to service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, headaches, joint and muscle pain, a disability manifested by memory loss, depression, and anxiety, dizziness, left knee disability, right knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

Service connection has been granted for GERD.,The Veteran's claim for migraine-headaches disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing the relationship between his service-connected PTSD and the headaches. The issue of whether the Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left-foot 2nd toe disability and/or right knee disability remains unresolved.,The Veteran's claim for left knee condition is remanded due to insufficient evidence addressing the relationship between his service-connected left-foot 2nd toe disability, right knee disability, and a diagnosable but medically unexplained chronic multi-symptom illness.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee conditions, as well as a gastrointestinal disorder. The remand is due to issues with substantial compliance with prior Board instructions.

The Veteran's lung condition is granted service connection due to presumed herbicide exposure. The right and left knee conditions are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of previously denied claims are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and verifying in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, hypertension, and sleep apnea have been denied as they are not related to his military service.,For the remaining issues (right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, cervical spine disorder, thoracolumbar spine disorder, loss of use of the right lower extremity, and loss of use of the left lower extremity), the case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of his right knee instability.