Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for GERD, respiratory disorder (other than sleep apnea), bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for bilateral hearing loss, and thus service connection is denied. The left knee issue remains remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling VA examinations for the Veteran's service-connected left total knee replacement and arthritis of the right ankle. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the SMC issue.

The Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected back and heart disabilities from August 25, 2014, to March 21, 2016.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection of right knee, left knee, right hip, bilateral plantar fascitis, and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left knee strain and osteoarthritis are related to his service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the onset and continuation of the Veteran's right and left knee disabilities, specifically related to in-service motor vehicle accidents.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability had its onset during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has identified multiple issues related to the Veteran's hip and ankle conditions, as well as hypertension. These claims are being remanded for further development and consideration of additional evidence.

The Veteran's left elbow status-post avulsion fracture, lumbosacral strain, and cervical strain have been granted service connection with a noncompensable rating. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability has also been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral wrist/hand and left knee braces caused excessive wear and tear on her clothing in calendar year 2014, which led to the denial of a clothing allowance. The Board found that the Veteran's claim was valid based on her credible testimony and lay statements.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right knee disability, left knee disability, and traumatic brain injury due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to a lack of complete service treatment records, inadequate medical opinions, and need for updated VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional VA medical opinions to determine if the Veteran's bilateral knee and ankle strain conditions were caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran's appeal of service connection for depression was dismissed. The claim of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder is reopened and granted to an initial 50 percent rating from September 1, 2011. Service connection for the other conditions (bilateral hip disorder and bilateral lower extremity disorder) remains denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and psychiatric disorder due to incomplete development of evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for GERD, sleep apnea, back condition, left thigh condition, and left knee condition due to inadequate medical examination and lack of substantial compliance with May 2022 remand instructions.

The claims for service connection of the Veteran's back disability, right knee disability, polyneuropathy of the left hand, and polyneuropathy of the right hand are being remanded due to new evidence received since previous decisions. The Board will seek medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disorder and a right knee disorder due to conflicting medical records and lack of VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected left knee disabilities, including symptomatic dislocated semilunar cartilage and painful limited motion, is remanded. The reduction in the rating from 20% to 10% for symptomatic dislocated semilunar cartilage is also being reviewed.