Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and tendonitis, as well as left knee chondromalacia and tendonitis, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's hearing loss and malaria claims are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's back disability, hand disability, hip disability, knee disability, numbness, tingling and weakness throughout body, and sinus disability claims are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,,,,,,

The Board has decided to remand the case due to concerns about the competency of a VA examiner who provided an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disorder. The case is being returned for further action, including obtaining the examiner's curriculum vitae and any updated VA treatment records.

The Veteran's headache disability, left knee disability (including PTSD as secondary), and PTSD are all granted. The Veteran is awarded a TDIU effective March 3, 2020, for his service-connected disabilities combined to exceed 60%. A separate rating of 100% for PTSD is granted beginning on March 3, 2020. Effective March 3, 2020, the Veteran also receives SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that it manifested during service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee, left ankle, right ankle, and left knee disabilities based on a finding of in-service injury and continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional assistance in obtaining private treatment records from Dr. K.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for a left hip and right knee disorders, as well as an acquired psychiatric disorder. The remand requires additional examinations and opinions to address whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for a left knee disability should be remanded due to unclear information about his periods of active duty.

The Board has granted reopening of the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic rotator cuff syndrome and prepatellar bursitis of the right knee, finding that new evidence supports a possible association with military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions. The issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, OSA, a respiratory disability, bilateral knee disabilities, and a back disability are all being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral shin splints and a bilateral knee disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The VA will attempt to obtain missing service records and provide medical examinations to determine if these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for left and right knee DJD (with limitation of flexion) and right knee DJD (with limitation of extension) was denied. The Veteran had limited range of motion in both knees, but no evidence of ankylosis or other complications.,The Veteran also appealed for a rating for his right knee symptomatic removal of cartilage with locking and effusion, which resulted in an episode of locking without swelling.

The Veteran's asthma is granted as service connected. The issues of a separate compensable rating for ilio-hypogastric and/or ilio-inguinal neuropathy, service connection for plantar fasciitis, right knee degenerative arthritis (post meniscal repair), and left knee degenerative arthritis are remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions to determine if the Veteran's claimed conditions are related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during their pendency.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome as they are unclear due to a lack of recent medical records.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to worsening of the Veteran's service-connected right knee and right foot disabilities, as evidenced by his recent purchase of a brace. New VA examinations are needed to assess the current severity of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, right leg amputation at the knee, amputation of the left fourth toe, foot ulcers, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and erectile dysfunction. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right knee disability, inguinal hernia, and scar on left groin are remanded due to insufficient evidence.