Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's lumbar spine, cervical spine, right knee, and bilateral foot disabilities prior to August 16, 2022. The claims are now considered resolved.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left shoulder, right shoulder, neck, and left knee conditions due to a lack of evidence showing that these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection for a back disability and a left knee disability. The Veteran's claims are not yet fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss, PTSD, and bilateral knee disabilities have been granted.,Service connection has also been granted for diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hips and right hand arthritis, as well as the right knee disability due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee osteoarthritis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The claims for hypertension and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disorder and tinnitus are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back disability and right knee instability, finding that there was no evidence of unfavorable ankylosis or incapacitating episodes meeting the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's claim was denied for higher ratings prior to September 2, 2021 and from September 2, 2021 to January 18, 2023. However, he received a 60 percent evaluation for ankylosis of the right knee beginning January 18, 2023.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee disability prior to August 27, 2019. The case will be returned for further review.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease was denied. A separate 20 percent rating for the right knee meniscal tear is granted, effective May 16, 2016.

The Veteran's service connection claims for headaches, sleep disturbance, and fatigue are remanded due to the need for a TERA opinion.,The Veteran's service connection claims for back, left knee, right knee, and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to the need for an examination addressing both etiology and pathophysiology of the conditions.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a right foot disability (claimed as pes planus) is remanded due to the need for a TERA opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to secondary service connection. The Veteran is seeking service connection for various joint and foot disabilities on a secondary basis to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to new and material evidence having been submitted, necessitating further development. The issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, PTSD, an esophageal condition, neurological impairment of the left lower extremity, neurological impairment of the right lower extremity, low back strain, left knee iliotibial band syndrome, and right knee iliotibial band syndrome are all remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee and back disabilities have been reopened, and the Board has determined that new and material evidence was received. The Board finds that there is at least an equipoise of evidence to support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's sinusitis is presumed to be causally related to presumed exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis, but remanded for further development on other issues.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's disabilities. The claims are not currently decided.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. The Veteran is also remanded for additional examinations related to his claimed disabilities, including bilateral feet, ankles, knees, shoulders, skin, frequent urination, migraines, PTSD, acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, and Bell's palsy.

The Board has remanded several claims for service connection due to the addition of new evidence, including updated VA treatment records and VA examination reports. The Veteran is asked to provide authorization for VA to obtain her private treatment records.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of physical therapy notes from 2014-15, and for further development.