Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, both as secondary to service-connected flat feet. The Veteran's claims were previously denied by the Board in July 2020 but were vacated by the Court due to an inadequate December 2019 VA examination.

The Board has restored a 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's left knee disability from September 15, 2017. The case is remanded for further evaluations of the right and left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the cases for further action due to the need for VA examination reports and Social Security Administration records.

The Veteran's sinusitis, right knee condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, and painful joints are related to his military service. The Veteran also has muscle spasms, fibromyositis, a left wrist cyst, and a left hand cyst that are related to his military service.,The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions (right and left) and painful joints are related to his exposure to environmental hazards during the Gulf War.

Your service connection claims for bilateral knee disabilities and a lumbar spine disability have been granted, but the appeal is dismissed as your issues are no longer pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection on appeal are remanded due to a lack of VA examinations and opinions. The Veteran is entitled to VA examinations to determine if she has any diagnosed conditions, and whether those conditions may be related to her military service.

Effective September 26, 2013, the Veteran was granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and its related disabilities including diabetic retinopathy, right below the knee amputation status post right foot transmetatarsal amputation (Lisfranc amputation), peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, and a scar from the amputation. Special monthly compensation was also awarded based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for right knee disability have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of hearing loss for VA purposes, and his right knee disability is currently rated at 10%.

The Board has granted service connection for left and right knee disorders, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder (MDD), all related to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether obesity is a substantial factor in causing or aggravating the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea, and whether PTSD is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 10% rating for his right knee disorder is denied. The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a separate disability rating for instability of the right knee.

The Board has ordered a VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability throughout the appeal period and to determine if a separate rating for right knee removal or dislocation of meniscal cartilage is warranted. The issues are remanded due to inadequate prior examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability is not rated higher than 10 percent due to painful motion with normal range of motion in both flexion and extension.,The Veteran's right knee disability is not rated higher than 10 percent due to painful motion with normal range of motion in both flexion and extension.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma has been reopened and is granted. The claims for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability and a neck disability, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to inadequate examination of the Veteran's knee disabilities, specifically focusing on the right knee. The VA examiner did not conduct a full examination and provided inconsistent findings with other evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran withdrew from appeal all issues related to service connection for various disabilities and an increased rating, resulting in the dismissal of these appeals.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including knee and foot conditions. The main reasons for remand include obtaining additional medical records, conducting further examinations, and developing claims for secondary service connection.

The Board has found that the development of the Veteran's claims for left ankle, bilateral knees, and bilateral hip disabilities was incomplete. The VA examination conducted during the last remand is deemed inadequate.