Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for a VA spine examination to determine the current nature and etiology of the claimed back condition.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been denied as there is no competent evidence showing that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during a period of honorable service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including bilateral eye disability and shoulder disabilities, were denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The earliest post-service records of the claimed disabilities are over four decades after discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation from November 6, 2015 until June 14, 2016. The Board granted TDIU for this period.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and medical opinions provided are not adequate to support a denial of entitlement to service connection for left knee disability. The Veteran should be afforded a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of all currently present left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities, along with his PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right ankle disability and denied claims for left ankle, bilateral hip, bronchitis, sinus, lumbar spine, and bilateral knee disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding the Veteran's lumbar spine and bilateral knee disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and plantar fasciitis, right foot. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's low back disorder (sacroiliitis) is granted service connection. Ratings for left and right knee PFPS are denied prior to March 11, 2015, but granted at 10 percent from that date. TDIU is also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to fatigue and sleep disturbances, a lumbar spine disorder, hypertension, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,No specific rating has been assigned as all issues have been remanded.

The Veteran's initial rating for his service-connected patellofemoral syndrome right knee disability is being remanded due to inadequate findings in previous VA examinations. The Veteran needs a new examination that addresses the current nature and severity of his condition, including flare-ups.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability and remanded the issue of service connection for a left shoulder disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluation of his knee disabilities. The case will be returned to the Board after this development.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected fibromyalgia and left knee disability result in loss of use of both lower extremities, qualifying for specially adapted housing. The appeal seeking a special home adaption grant is dismissed as the Veteran was found eligible for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing.

The Veteran's left knee tricompartmental osteoarthritis with instability and lost motion are currently rated at the highest possible schedular ratings, but do not warrant a higher rating as they do not meet the criteria for any additional disability due to pain or other factors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and sleep apnea due to lack of recent VA examinations. The earlier effective date claim is also remanded as the AOJ has not yet issued a Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development on issues of service connection and initial ratings.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sleep apnea or intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) and therefore denied service connection for these conditions. The Board also found that there is no nexus between the Veteran's in-service tailbone injury and his current IVDS, thus denying service connection for IVDS. Service connection was remanded for bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability, including as secondary to his service-connected sarcoidosis. The evidence did not support a finding that the right knee disability was related to either the in-service injury or the service-connected condition.