Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU was denied, and the July 2022 rating decision granted increased ratings for his major depressive disorder and knee gout.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a back disorder, left knee disorder, blood clots, and bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence received since the August 2019 rating decision. The claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder is not being readjudicated as there was no new and relevant evidence submitted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and therefore, service connection for PTSD is denied. The Board also found that there was no evidence to support the Veteran's claim for service connection for his torn meniscus with limited range of motion in the left knee due to lack of an adequate VA examination prior to the May 2019 rating decision on appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle sprain residuals, severe right ankle sprain residuals with possible stress fracture, a left knee disability, and a right knee disability. The Board found no current disabilities in these areas.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, headache disorder, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to the preexisting nature of these conditions and lack of evidence showing they were aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining updated treatment records. The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities are being reviewed.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient examination regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine/radiculopathy condition aggravated his left knee disability. The Veteran needs to provide additional medical evidence and a new opinion is required.

The Veteran's left and right knee degenerative arthritis, as well as his left ankle strain, are all granted with specific ratings. The Veteran is awarded a separate 10 percent rating for instability in the right knee, and a 20 percent rating for left ankle strain.

The Board has dismissed all issues on appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome were denied.,Service connection was granted for bilateral patellofemoral pain syndrome in July 1998, but the RO assigned a noncompensable disability evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records, including missing service treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide releases for private medical records and complete VA Forms 21-4142.

The Board has denied service connection for a left knee disability and a right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the evidence does not support a direct relationship to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on limitation of motion or instability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on four service-connected conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has determined that a more contemporaneous examination is needed to evaluate the Veteran's service-connected right total knee replacement. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and records to determine the current severity of his left knee disability, including any meniscus condition. The effective date for service connection remains September 25, 2015.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the Veteran's right knee and left foot disorders are caused or aggravated by his service-connected left knee strain with osteoarthritis and lumbosacral strain, considering potential biomechanical effects.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to appellate dispostion due to the inadequacy of the September 2018 VA examination for assessing the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities. The case is REMANDED for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for above the right knee amputation and increased ratings for his back disability are denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability and asthma are granted service connection. The Board has found the evidence persuasive that these conditions are related to his active duty service, but the claims for sleep apnea and cysts and boils (claimed as due to anthrax vaccine) need further development.