Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's headaches are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, effective January 20, 2017. Other service-connected conditions have been assigned specific ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including Service Treatment Records from his first period of service. The VA will attempt to obtain these records or conclude that they do not exist.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings are being remanded as the most recent VA examinations do not provide sufficient information to determine the current severity of his service-connected conditions. He needs new examinations to accurately assess the extent and severity of his headaches, depressive disorder, and right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with arthritis.

The Board dismissed the claims for service connection due to the appellant's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for which service connection can be granted, specifically for bilateral knee condition, bilateral hearing loss, and cervical spine condition. The Veteran's claim for back condition is also denied.,Service connection was denied for all issues due to lack of credible evidence supporting in-service incurrence or aggravation of the conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of right knee, low back, neck, and right hip disorders is granted as new and material evidence has been received. The Board finds that the current right knee, right hip, low back, and/or neck disorders are related to his service-connected left ankle disability.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected left knee disability are being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and considering the appropriate rating criteria for a total left knee replacement.

The Veteran's claims for depression, memory loss, and social anxiety are denied as there is no evidence of a separate psychiatric disorder from his service-connected PTSD.,The claim for an undiagnosed illness (claimed as Gulf War syndrome) is denied due to lack of objective indications of a chronic disability.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions due to additional VA records being added to the case file.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disabilities as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected low back disability. However, the cervical spine disability claim is remanded due to inadequate rationale in the previous opinion.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to his failure to report for a VA examination and lack of service records in Iraq.

The Veteran's initial rating for left knee strain was granted from December 2, 2008 to September 3, 2010. From September 3, 2010 to March 1, 2015, the Veteran received a rating in excess of 40 percent for his condition. The rating was then reduced to 40 percent from March 1, 2015 to June 6, 2019 and further reduced to 30 percent from June 6, 2019 to July 10, 2020. A rating in excess of 30 percent was denied for the period after July 10, 2020. The Veteran also received an initial rating of 20 percent for left knee instability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee and hip disabilities due to new evidence showing chronic pain in his hips and knees. The claims are being reviewed again as there is potential that these conditions may be related to service, specifically airborne jumps.

The Veteran's right knee condition, bilateral pes planus, tinnitus, and low back condition with radiculopathy have been granted service connection.,Service connection for hearing loss is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty regarding the Veteran's right knee disability, specifically his past arthroscopic surgery. The VA must obtain private treatment records and schedule a new examination to clarify these issues before rating the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left knee patellofemoral syndrome are granted service connection. The right foot disability, left foot disability, and allergic rhinitis claims are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and medical opinions are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected conditions, as well as whether his sleep apnea is related to toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs) during service. The claims for higher evaluations and service connection are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disability and sleep apnea due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a left knee disability and a back disability, finding no evidence of such conditions during active duty training (ACDUTRA) or any link to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including arthritis and meniscus tear with instability, is rated at 10 percent. The rating for instability of the left knee was denied beginning June 24, 2023.