Knee Board decisions

Your service connection claims for a left shoulder disability and a left knee disability have been granted. The appeal is dismissed as the benefits sought are now fully granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete records and the need for updated VA examinations. The issues of increased evaluations for various service-connected disabilities are being returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient development and need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including whether they are proximately due or aggravated by her service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's left thumb arthritis and hypertension are granted service connection, but the right knee disability is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and thoracolumbar disorders due to outstanding VA imaging records and inadequate opinions from previous examiners. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on in-service injuries.

The Board denied service connection for left-knee disorder, finding no evidence of a current disability that was incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of left and right knee disabilities, as well as left and right hip disabilities, all secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus. The case is being sent back for further development regarding whether the Veteran's obesity (caused or aggravated by his service-connected bilateral pes planus) caused or contributed to his current knee and hip disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and lack of etiological opinions. The Veteran's complaints of low back pain, left knee arthritis, and cervical spine DDD are being reviewed again.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee and bilateral hip disabilities, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active duty service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for low back, left knee, right knee, residuals of left rib injury, sleep apnea, and bilateral foot disabilities due to additional evidence being added to the claims file.

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations to address inconsistencies in the Veteran's right wrist and knee disability ratings, as well as a remand for consideration of TDIU prior to January 19, 2010.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including depression, knee degenerative joint disease, jaw fracture residuals, sleep apnea, migraines, eczema, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right shoulder disability, bilateral ear disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, left ankle disability, and hypertension. The Veteran is asked to provide additional VA clinical documentation for review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran and his spouse have provided lay statements about their experiences with knee pain.

The Veteran's tinnitus is service connected, and he has a current diagnosis of hypertension. The gastrointestinal condition (IBS and GERD) and psychiatric disability are not service connected. Right knee, left knee, right shoulder, low back, and left middle finger conditions remain on appeal.,Further evaluations are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's gastrointestinal condition, psychiatric disability, and lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's lumbar spine DJD and lower extremity radiculopathy are rated at the lowest possible levels, with no higher ratings granted. The right knee patellofemoral syndrome is also rated at the lowest level.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left knee torn meniscus and repair with early degenerative joint disease, as well as his left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear with instability, due to failure to appear at scheduled VA examinations.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for right knee disability, left hip disability, and rash are remanded due to the Veteran's failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The Board finds that he has established good cause for missing his scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining new VA opinions regarding the Veteran's right knee and lower back disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination and treatment records. The case is being returned for a new VA examination, updated medical opinions, and obtaining of additional VA treatment records.