Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand several claims related to the Veteran's knee disabilities due to new evidence indicating potential worsening of his conditions. The Veteran will need a new examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence being added to the record, and the Veteran is entitled to a full review of his claims.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities and carpal tunnel syndrome are rated based on their severity, with the right knee receiving a separate rating for cartilage involvement. The case is remanded due to unresolved issues.

The Veteran's service-connected painful joints, hemorrhoids, mechanical low back pain, right knee instability, right knee chondromalacia, and right and left knee degenerative joint disease are all denied. A total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for additional VA examinations.

Service connection is granted for headaches, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, and thoracolumbar spine disorder.,Service connection is denied for hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), RIGHT ankle disorder, LEFT knee disorder, RIGHT knee disorder, radiculopathy of the RIGHT lower extremity, radiculopathy of the LEFT lower extremity, and cervical spine / neck disorder.,Service connection is remanded for radiculopathy of the RIGHT upper extremity and radiculopathy of the LEFT upper extremity.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee osteoarthritis was granted. The issues of service connection for left knee disability and lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Right knee osteoarthritis is found to be related to the Veteran's military service, with frequent stooping, squatting, kneeling, and climbing ladders being contributory factors.

The Veteran's increased disability ratings for left knee and lumbar spine disabilities have been denied.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability has been granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran will be provided with VA examinations for his claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability and bilateral eye disability due to lack of VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of specific retroactive opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to January 19, 2012. The claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis is referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Services.

The Board denied service connection for right hip, left hip, and right knee disabilities as well as thyroid disability (hypothyroidism).,The Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% rating due to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability due to a lack of service treatment records. The Veteran contends that his current disabilities are related to in-service jumping from military vehicles with heavy equipment.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as cardiovascular disability other than hypertension and PVD. The Veteran wishes to withdraw his appeals on these issues.

The Veteran's right shoulder, left shoulder, right knee, and left knee disabilities are denied as service connection is not warranted.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is denied as it is not proximately due to or aggravated by his PTSD.,The Veteran's bilateral blepharitis and early cataracts are denied as they are not etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hand osteoarthritis and left knee disorder are granted service connection. The Board finds the evidence is at least as likely as not that her back disorder had its onset during service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it is related to her service-connected bilateral foot disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the Veteran's in-service parachute jumps are related to his current condition. The claim was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the previous denial.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete range of motion findings and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right hand scar, left knee strain, and right knee strain were denied as the evidence did not show that any of these conditions warranted a rating in excess of 10 percent. The denial was based on the fact that the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination related to his knee disabilities.