Knee Board decisions

The Veteran requested to withdraw all remaining issues associated with this appeal, including the claims for increased ratings for left and right knee chondromalacia. As a result, the claims are dismissed.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for additional development due to missing VA treatment records and potential SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran is also required to undergo further medical examinations related to his knee, hip, back, neck, arthritis, foot, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, eye, lung, and hearing loss conditions.

The Veteran's low back and left knee disabilities are granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The skin condition is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's low back disorder, right hip disorder, and bilateral knee disorder are not service-connected.,However, the Veteran was granted service connection for a respiratory disability (bronchitis), with no specific effective date provided.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and diabetes mellitus type II due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete records. The Veteran is required to provide authorization for release of his private treatment records from Precision Fabric and Pleasant Garden Family Medicine.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 60 percent, effective from January 7, 2012. The appeal remains on hold due to remanded issues.,Service connection for a left shoulder disability and diabetes mellitus are also being remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and a right knee disability. The right knee disability remains remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions in his VA examination reports. The issues include left leg, left knee, sleep disorder, residuals of cold weather injuries, and low back disorders.

The Veteran's sinusitis, GERD, and knee disabilities are found to have onset during service. Service connection is granted for sinusitis. The issues of service connection for GERD, hypertension, right knee disability, and left knee disability are remanded due to incomplete service records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain a VA examination for his left knee disability, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The initial rating claim for the right knee disability remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee condition and a lower back condition due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities due to in-service injury during inactive duty training. Additional development is needed, including a supplemental VA opinion to address whether the current knee disabilities are related to the in-service injuries.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete examinations, lack of recent VA treatment records, and need for additional development including SSA records.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including patellofemoral syndrome and degenerative arthritis, is currently rated at 10% for limitation of flexion. He also has a separate 10% rating for instability since March 25, 2008.

The Veteran's right knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for limitation of motion and granted a 10 percent rating for instability/subluxation from January 31, 2011 to May 11, 2021. The Board denied higher ratings for the right knee disability.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on limitation of motion.,PTSD has been rated at 50 percent since July 12, 2013. The Board concludes that PTSD warrants an initial rating of 50 percent prior to October 23, 2020 and denied the claim for a higher rating beginning October 23, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, bilateral knee disorder, muscle pain in the lower extremities, and respiratory disorder (to include CFS) are being remanded due to new evidence received since the final denial of these claims.,New evidence includes updated stressor statements and VA examination reports that support the Veteran's assertions regarding her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, unspecified reaction to severe stress and depression, is granted as service connected. The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied due to lack of verified in-service stressor. Service connection for a right knee disorder is denied because the preexisting condition did not worsen during service. Service connection for cervical spine and lumbar spine disorders are also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral knee disability and CAD, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active military service. The issue of Gulf War Syndrome is remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to his bilateral knee conditions and associated disabilities, finding that none of his service-connected disabilities meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU. The Board also found no evidence of unemployability due to these disabilities alone.