Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for entitlement to service connection for right and left knee osteoarthritis due to insufficient opinions regarding onset during service, within one year after separation, or related to in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right knee and low back disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's active duty service is alleged as a potential cause.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, right knee, left knee, and right hip disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to his military service.

The Board has remanded several issues including the initial rating for headache syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the right and left knees, hypertension, and a TDIU prior to April 13, 2018. Additional evidence is needed in some cases.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is granted, effective April 19, 2008. The criteria were met as the Veteran was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral foot and right knee disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after compliance with appellate procedures.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, residuals of cold injury to the feet, and other psychiatric disorders were denied as there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor or diagnosis of residuals of cold injury to the feet. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these claims.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout was denied as there is no evidence showing that his gout initially manifested during service, nor did it have a nexus with service.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and right knee disability.

The Veteran's fingernail discoloration is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for an undiagnosed illness, manifested by symptoms of sleep disturbance, weight loss, and fatigue (originally claimed as sleep apnea), is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has accepted the August 2018 Notice of Disagreement (NOD) as timely and has remanded both issues for further development. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim is remanded to obtain a supplemental medical opinion, while his right knee condition claim is remanded to issue a Statement of the Case.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder strain, bilateral hip strain, and left knee degenerative joint disease. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during active duty or are otherwise related to in-service injury or disease.,The VA examiners found no nexus between the current disabilities and active duty service.

A rating of 20 percent for left hip strain with osteoarthritis, limited flexion, prior to April 20, 2015, is granted.,A rating of 10 percent for left hip strain with osteoarthritis, limited extension, prior to April 20, 2015, is granted.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip strain with osteoarthritis, limited flexion, prior to April 20, 2015, is denied.,A rating of 10 percent for right hip strain with osteoarthritis, limited extension, prior to April 20, 2015, is granted.,Restoration of a 20 percent evaluation for status post right ankle reconstruction with residual scar is granted, effective February 21, 2014.,Restoration of a 10 percent evaluation for lateral collateral ligament instability, left knee is granted, effective February 21, 2014.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has remanded the claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 5003 for right knee arthritis, from February 12, 2016 due to inadequate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities due to incomplete examinations and lack of information on functional loss.

The Veteran's right knee disorders, including a preexisting lateral femoral condyle defect and subsequent patellofemoral pain syndrome and medial meniscus pathology, are granted as aggravated by his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions regarding direct service connection.