Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's cervical spine, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities are granted as service-connected based on direct evidence linking them to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, right shoulder disability, left shoulder disability, and right knee disability due to insufficient medical opinions addressing secondary service connection. The RO is requested to obtain additional VA treatment records, resubmit a buddy statement from J.F., and provide addendum VA medical opinions on the etiology of these disabilities.

The Veteran's right knee disability and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) are being remanded for further evaluation. The issues involve the severity of his right knee disability, including consideration of flare-ups, and the impact on TDIU.

Service connection for interstitial lung disease is granted on a presumptive basis. A 40 percent rating, but no higher, is granted for a lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for acid reflux, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and bilateral heel pain due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to send the claim file to an appropriate clinician who will provide opinions on whether the Veteran's conditions had onset in active service or are otherwise causally connected to his service.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its remand directives and the claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for herpes zoster was withdrawn by the Veteran.,Service connection is denied for PFB, headaches, sinusitis, right breast mass, bradycardia, testicular disorder, groin disorder, and bilateral knee condition.

The Board has granted service connection for left foot plantar fasciitis and remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the left knee and right knee.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, including arthritis, is being readjudicated due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The AOJ will reassess this claim.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on his knee and back conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.

An effective date of March 17, 2009, is granted for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with meniscal tear are remanded.

The appeals for hearing loss, tinnitus, and a back disability are dismissed as the Veteran's claims were improperly docketed under the AMA.,The appeals for neck, left shoulder, right shoulder, left knee, and right knee disabilities are also dismissed due to improper docketing under the AMA.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability, finding that new evidence received after a prior final denial supports the claim. The decision is based on the opinion of a private physician who concluded that the Veteran's current right knee disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, but his bilateral hearing loss and left eyebrow scar are denied. The right hand condition, right knee condition, right ankle condition (claimed as secondary to right knee condition), and lumbar spine condition (claimed as secondary to right knee condition) are all remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions, including right hip disorder replacement, eczema, right shoulder rotator cuff chronic residuals, degenerative disc disease of the cervical, hypertension, left shoulder rotator cuff chronic residuals, right knee DJD, left hip disorder replacement, and lumbosacral neuritis radiculitis thoracic, all of which are determined to not be related to service.

The Board has found that new evidence supports readjudication of the previously denied claim for service connection for a left knee disability. The claims for an increased rating for MDD, service connection for pre-syncope and/or syncope (secondary to MDD), and TDIU are also remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a right knee condition and bilateral pes cavus have been dismissed because the Veteran withdrew her appeal.

The Board has found that the Veteran's service records cannot be located and that there are no relevant post-service medical treatment records. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical spine disability, right inguinal hernia, memory loss due to concussion, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and bilateral knee disability are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to a duty-to-assist error in failing to obtain VA examinations and opinions regarding the severity of her right knee disability, as well as whether her June 2016 right knee arthroscopy surgery was related to her service-connected right knee strain.