Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted on an extraschedular basis from August 1, 2012, to June 6, 2021, due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Right Knee Disorder, finding that there was no in-service incurrence or continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete military personnel records, inadequate medical opinion from January 2018, and conflicting reports about the in-service injury. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip, left hip, fibromyalgia, and hypothyroidism conditions. The issues of service connection for a right knee condition are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and a need to determine her military service dates.

The Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine was granted service connection. The right and left knee disabilities are remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's knee and hip conditions and his service, as well as the potential role of obesity in exacerbating these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that a separate rating of 10 percent is warranted for left knee instability, but the main issues are related to his left knee osteoarthritis and meniscal tear.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements regarding his left knee symptoms and continuity of symptomatology. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to determine if his current left knee disability is related to service.

The Veteran's left knee instability, gastrointestinal disability (Barrett's esophagus and GERD), and heart disability (PSVT, cardiac arrhythmia, paroxysmal ventricular arrhythmia) are all granted. The case is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his left knee disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete notification of a previous rating decision, need for additional medical opinions regarding hypertension and bilateral knee disability, and need for SSA records.

The Veteran's PTSD is denied a rating in excess of 50 percent. Ratings for left and right knee conditions are granted, but not in excess of the current assigned ratings. Service connection is established for headaches, residuals from carpal tunnel release on the right wrist, and right wrist scar.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be provided a new VA examination to discuss whether his right leg disability (right knee osteoarthritis) is related to service, including earlier surgeries and pre-service treatment. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for his back and right knee disabilities due to issues with functional loss during flare-ups and neurological manifestations, as well as inadequate range of motion measurements in a recent VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee and back disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to secondary service connection and TDIU claims. The Veteran's OSA is being reviewed again, and a new opinion on obesity as an intermediate step in causing or aggravating his OSA is needed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, effectively dismissing the claims for service connection of left knee disability and lumbar spine disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability, finding that the Veteran's reports of in-service injury and chronic pain are credible. The Board also found no evidence to rebut the presumption that his right knee disability became manifest during combat service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including TBI, right knee disorder, low back disorder, PTSD, headaches, and skin disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and private medical records from Carney Hospital.