Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete examinations and lack of clear opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his knee, low back, and right hip disabilities. The appeals are now pending again.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination conducted in July 2019.

The Veteran's back disability is granted a 40% rating from July 28, 2010 to July 24, 2020. Ratings in excess of 40% for the back disability and ratings in excess of 10% for both knee disabilities are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, tinnitus, right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus, and a right knee disability, renders him unemployable due to significant symptoms that preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected left knee strain and chondromalacia, right knee instability, right knee strain and chondromalacia, and left knee instability due to inadequate VA medical examinations and other procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with its previous directives, specifically regarding imaging studies of the Veteran's right knee. The claim remains on appeal for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for subpatellar chondromalacia and degenerative arthritis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings have been denied. The Board has found that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss, and remanded the issues regarding degenerative joint disease of the lumbosacral spine and left knee lateral meniscectomy.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disability is aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's right carpal tunnel syndrome is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of a chronic right wrist disorder other than carpal tunnel syndrome, and the claim for this condition is denied.,The Veteran's current right knee disability is not considered to be related to his active service.

The claims for service connection for psoriasis, left knee degenerative joint disease, arthritis, right knee disability, diabetes, and hypertension have all been denied as the evidence does not show a direct relationship to military service.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and left knee disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the appellant's active duty periods.,For CTS, the Board found no medical opinion linking it to ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA service. For left knee disability, while there was a positive medical opinion from July 2013 VA examination, the appellant did not receive an LOD determination for her injury.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral knee disability due to service-connected right hip disability, as it requires an addendum opinion from the May 2021 examiner regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral knee disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected right hip disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examination reports and the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee chronic tear of the medial meniscus and left knee chronic degeneration of the medial meniscus, patellofemoral syndrome, and bursitis as secondary to service-connected right knee chronic tear of the medial meniscus. The decision is based on evidence that is at least in equipoise regarding whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was received to reconsider the Veteran's claims on appeal. The Veteran is currently diagnosed with left knee, lower back, and right shoulder disabilities; service treatment records confirm treatment for left knee and back conditions; and he is service connected for a right knee disability. The Board finds remand necessary due to inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional error in not providing an adequate VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left knee disability.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disorder as there is no evidence of a current disability, an in-service injury or disease, and no link between the Veteran's current condition and her military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left ear hearing loss, fatigue secondary to OSA, and several other conditions have been denied. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a current disability in some of these cases.,Service connection for right elbow condition, left elbow condition, left hip condition (secondary to trochanteric bursitis), and left knee condition (secondary to patellofemoral syndrome) has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as separate additional ratings for instability in both knees. The remand is due to insufficient reasons provided by the Board regarding the presence or absence of instability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is related to his military service or secondary to his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities.