Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lung condition, amyloidosis, right knee disability, left knee disability, left shoulder strain, and left hand degenerative joint disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,New evidence has been received that may support the existence of current lung conditions and exposure to herbicides. The claims for service connection for a lung condition and amyloidosis are reopened.

The Board has remanded several issues including service connection for left knee instability, left knee status post partial meniscectomy with DJD, and increased evaluation for left knee instability prior to April 26, 2021. Other claims such as bilateral hearing loss, right ankle disorder, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disorder are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development and readjudication, including obtaining opinions regarding service connection for sleep apnea on a secondary basis.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee DJD, torn left lateral meniscus, and left knee strain. The examiner was asked to consider whether these conditions are at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, higher initial ratings for his left shoulder and right knee disabilities, and a determination of whether obesity related to his service-connected conditions was a substantial factor in causing his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not support an etiological link to service.

The Veteran's disability ratings for his left and right knee disabilities have been restored, with the effective date being January 19, 2023.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and initial rating for left hand tremor with shrapnel wound (left hand disability). The evidence does not support a finding of service connection or an increased rating.

The Board dismissed all appeals of the veteran's claims for service connection due to his withdrawal of those appeals.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a right knee disorder was dismissed because the AOJ had already granted service connection in an earlier decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in prior examinations.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his left knee disability is remanded due to the lack of proper range of motion measurements in previous VA examinations, and a new examination is required.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete medical opinions and missing service records.

The Board granted a 30 percent disability rating for right knee instability, the maximum possible under VA regulations. The Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis was not increased beyond the existing 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, was denied as the most persuasive evidence demonstrated that his current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder did not have its onset during active duty service or was otherwise etiologically related to service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, and right knee disability are remanded due to a lack of VA examination records.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's low back disability, right knee disabilities (post-prosthetic replacement and prior), left shoulder disability, and right ankle disability. The TDIU claim is also on appeal for a period prior to March 18, 2015.

The Board has remanded several claims for further development, including scheduling VA examinations and obtaining an etiology opinion regarding the Veteran's tinnitus. The remaining issues are also being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left great toe disorder has been granted.,The Board found new and material evidence to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for psychiatric disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of left knee sprain, left leg disorder, and right leg disorder as these conditions are not found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied entitlement to a higher rating. The Veteran also filed for total disability prior to September 1, 2019, but the Board found that he did not meet the criteria.