Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a low back condition, bilateral knee and foot conditions, left ear hearing loss, an eye condition (dry eye syndrome), a skin condition (psoriasis), a thyroid condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a left parapharyngeal space mass, a salivary gland disorder, and bilateral tenosynovitis of the wrists.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are currently pending due to remand orders.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his back disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran is required to provide an adequate opinion on these matters.

Service connection for PTSD is granted, and secondary service connection for alcohol abuse disorder as secondary to PTSD is also granted.,The effective date of February 25, 2011 for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The claims for bilateral knee disorders are reopened.,Increased ratings for right shoulder disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded. Increased rating for low back disability is also remanded.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disability, left shoulder disability, and neck disability is remanded.

The Board has decided that additional evidence is needed to determine appropriate ratings for the Veteran's left knee disabilities, and these issues are being remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development and consideration, including a new examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected left knee osteoarthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee disability, right wrist disability, and hernia due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for further evaluation due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's joint pain and arthritis are related to his service, specifically fuel exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 60 percent for left knee arthroplasty is denied. The current evaluation of 60 percent has been in effect since September 10, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her bilateral knee conditions have been denied. The claim for service connection for a gall bladder condition has been remanded due to incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The claim for a left knee disability is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, finding no evidence of such condition in service and noting that his current symptoms began decades after separation from service.,For the residuals of a puncture wound and muscle injury to the left groin, the Veteran was not granted a compensable rating as there is no evidence of painful scarring or other disabling effects.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his claim for sleep apnea and increased ratings for various conditions. The Veteran will need to undergo additional examinations to determine the current severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and retrospective opinions regarding flare-ups.

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee and right hip disabilities due to a lack of VA examinations. The Veteran's service records indicate he served in Afghanistan, but no specific exposure basis is provided.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee condition, including IT band syndrome. The claim will be returned for further examination and opinion.

A 40 percent rating for the Veteran's lumbar spine disability throughout the period on appeal is granted.,A rating higher than 10 percent for right knee patellofemoral arthritis is denied.,A 10 percent rating, but no higher, for left knee patellofemoral arthritis with limitation of flexion is granted throughout the period on appeal.,A rating higher than 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral arthritis with limitation of extension as of November 15, 2021, is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and restless leg syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10% rating for tinnitus, but his sleep apnea remains at the 50% level. Other conditions remain denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate nexus opinion and need for updated records. The Veteran's right knee disability is being reviewed again with a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis. The Veteran's appeal regarding the other issues is remanded due to additional evidentiary development being required.