Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling an updated psychiatric examination for PTSD and assessing the Veteran's ability to care for daily needs due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that additional remand is necessary due to inconsistencies in the medical evidence regarding the Veteran's left knee disability, including instability and flare-ups. The TDIU claim will also be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected. The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee, neck, and left shoulder conditions due to incomplete medical opinions and outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings due to insufficient information from previous VA examinations regarding his lumbosacral, cervical, and left knee disabilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated treatment records and arrange for new orthopedic examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition in service or during the presumption period, and that any current diagnoses were not related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on painful motion and instability. The appeal is denied as the evidence does not support a higher rating for any of the conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee disability and service connection for right hip disorder, to include as secondary to service-connected right knee disability due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for additional medical opinions regarding service connection for a right knee disability. The issues of temporary total evaluation are also being remanded as they are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection.

The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded for a new examination to determine its current severity. The SMC claim is also being remanded as it may be impacted by the development of his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA medical opinions and the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claims for specific phobia, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression and anxiety), left knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral hip condition as secondary to back disability, rating in excess of 20 percent for specific phobia, rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are all granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for specific phobia is set at December 27, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a left knee disability was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his request for a hearing and requested that his case be decided based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability is rated at 30% and a separate rating of 10% for right knee instability has been granted. The Board finds the Veteran's condition warrants remand to determine if there are additional conditions present in his right knee that would warrant separate ratings.,The Veteran seeks an increased rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability, which is currently rated at 30%. He also seeks a separate rating for his right knee instability, which he reports as being constant and affecting his daily activities.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a right knee, left knee, or skin disability for which service connection can be granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating of his right wrist condition, left knee condition, and low back strain due to inadequate examinations and need for further diagnostic testing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee, shin splint, and ankle disabilities due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate prior examinations. The case will be returned to the Board after additional evidence is obtained.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's April 2019 VA Form 10182 constitutes a valid and timely legacy appeal for service connection for neck, back, and bilateral knee disabilities. The case is REMANDED to issue a Statement of the Case on these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hip conditions and a left knee condition due to inadequate opinions regarding their etiology.,Specifically, the right hip degenerative arthritis and residuals of status post hip joint replacement are being remanded for addendum opinions addressing whether they are related to service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and updated VA treatment records, private examinations, lay statements, and articles being added to the claims file. The RO must consider this additional evidence in the first instance.

The Board has remanded the claims for a lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and bilateral hip disorder due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete medical opinions. The Veteran is to be provided with new VA examinations and addendum opinions regarding his service connection claims.