Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service. The decision also reopened the claim due to new and material evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased evaluations have been withdrawn by her authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions and non-VA treatment records. The Veteran's cause of death is being evaluated to determine if his service-connected conditions contributed to or caused his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis has been reopened and granted.,Service connection was denied for left knee degenerative arthritis, but the claim is being remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for dental disability and a higher rating for his right knee condition are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including VA treatment records, and a new examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder, including arthritis, chondromalacia, and meniscus tear, as well as secondary service connection to his service-connected lumbar spine arthritis. The evidence did not show an in-service injury or disease of the left knee, nor were there chronic symptoms during service. The current left knee disorders are not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder, lumbar spine, right knee, and left knee disorders due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives and outstanding VA treatment records.

Service connection for arthritis of the right and left knees has been granted.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right eye disorder, and bilateral hearing loss have not been established.

The Veteran is granted increased ratings of 20 percent for limitation of flexion in both knees and a separate rating of 10 percent for instability of the left knee, effective September 9, 2016.

The Veteran's right knee total arthroplasty has not met the criteria for a higher rating than 30 percent since March 1, 2017.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any knee disorders, including whether they are related to service or secondary to service-connected shin splints.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD, splenectomy as secondary to GERD, and left knee disability have been reopened.,Service connection has been granted for GERD. The Board found the evidence at least in equipoise that the Veteran's GERD is etiologically related to long-term use of NSAIDs used to treat his service-connected right ankle sprain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inextricably intertwined issues and inadequate opinions. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, thyroid cancer, hypothyroidism, left knee condition, and right knee condition.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not rated as compensable, but service connection for left and right knee disabilities has been granted.,Service connection was established for the Veteran's left and right knee disabilities based on continuity of symptomatology since active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis, left knee tendonitis, chest wall muscle strain, and tension headaches are being remanded for additional examinations to assess their current severity.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to a lack of recent medical evidence, new theories of entitlement, or procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeal for initial compensable disability rating for left eye cataract and a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for tendonitis of the left knee is remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to the need for a new examination and consideration of secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability records. A new VA examination will be scheduled to assess the severity of his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has referred several claims to the AOJ for further development and final adjudication, including service connection for a right hip disability, hypertension, strokes secondary to hypertension, bilateral lower extremity swelling (edema), right ankle disability, and rating of a right knee disability in excess of 20 percent. The AOJ should address these issues promptly.