Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the cases due to missing service treatment records and a need for additional VA examination or opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's right knee disability and his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee, cervical spine, and right shoulder disorders are remanded due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lower/middle back disorder and left knee disorder due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran is also being asked to provide updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for left and right elbow lateral epicondylitis, as well as a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee limitation of motion are being remanded due to the need for additional development including VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations of record are inadequate and do not comply with prior remand directives. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for low back strain, right knee degenerative joint disease, and left knee degenerative joint disease are being remanded to obtain new examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for his right leg disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 9, 2013 or 30 percent from that date.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary to address due process issues and obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's employment prospects. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are granted as service connected.,His major depressive disorder is found to have been aggravated during his deployment, warranting service connection.,There is no evidence of a kidney disability at any time related to the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for left knee and vision disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for a right knee disability, claimed as secondary to service-connected chronic right meralgia paresthetica.,The Board also denied service connection for a back disability, including as secondary to service-connected chronic right meralgia paresthetica and a claimed right knee disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back, right knee, left knee, sinus, and sleep apnea conditions due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's statements about his symptoms are considered credible.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, including those from Community Care Consult, Pathways Acupuncture, The Core Institute, and fee outpatient records. Additional examinations are needed to assess the full range of motion for the Veteran's left knee and thoracolumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral wrist disabilities, low back condition, and a rating in excess of 10 percent for mild patellofemoral degenerative joint disease of the right knee. The Veteran's current ratings are based on symptomatic residuals from semilunar cartilage removal performed during service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow any substantially gainful employment since March 1, 2016.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, and initial disability ratings for right and left knee strains are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability is granted, with the exception of the issue related to service connection for low back disability. The restoration of a 10 percent rating for left knee instability since December 30, 2019, and a separate 10 percent rating for limitation of flexion prior to that date are both granted.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome with degenerative arthritis, lumbar spondylosis deformans, degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, and left knee degenerative arthritis. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is rated at 10% for instability and extension, but the Board has found that separate ratings are warranted. The case is remanded to determine if a higher rating can be assigned.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a missed VA examination and requests another examination for an opinion on the etiology of the left knee disability. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after this additional development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neck disability, left knee disability (secondary to right foot fracture), and right knee disability (secondary to right foot fracture). The claim for loss of vision was also denied. No breathing disorder was diagnosed in the record.,Service connection was not granted as there is no evidence linking any current disabilities to military service.