Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues with the Veteran's address and need for additional medical examinations. The claims are related to a psychiatric disability (PTSD), bilateral pes planus, and right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was denied because the evidence did not support a finding that his left knee disorder began during or was caused by his active service, and there was no indication of fault on the part of VA in his treatment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a left thigh scar was withdrawn. The claim for latent tuberculosis infection was denied as there is no evidence of active tuberculosis during or after service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and left knee disorder were remanded due to insufficient evidence, while the claim for left leg and thigh disability (varicose veins) was also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for lumbosacral strain and left knee disability were denied. The RO granted a 20% rating for the left knee disability effective August 14, 2019, but denied any higher ratings.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea has been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for tinnitus was also denied, with the highest possible rating already assigned (10%).,An increased rating for the right knee partial LCL tear prior to August 15, 2016, and from October 1, 2016, is remanded due to evidence of worsening symptoms.,Service connection for headaches is also remanded as there is no VA examination or opinion regarding this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need to determine if temporary total ratings for convalescence are warranted following the Veteran's left knee surgeries. The claim will be further developed to address these issues.

The Veteran withdrew all his claims related to increased ratings for various osteoarthritis conditions and knee disabilities. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's right knee condition, but has remanded his claims for hypertension and GERD as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received, but the issues remain unresolved as they are still being reviewed by the AOJ.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities, including arthritis and tibial stress syndrome in the left knee, are rated at 10 percent for each knee. The right knee is rated at 10 percent, while the left knee with instability is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the conditions are related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board dismissed the claims of service connection for bilateral knee disabilities as they have already been granted in a previous rating decision. The claim for TDIU prior to February 27, 2015 is remanded and the claim for bilateral ankle disability is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to insufficient evidence regarding the severity of the Veteran's knee disabilities. The claims for hypertension and knee disabilities are currently pending.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for lumbar spine degenerative arthritis was denied as the current evaluation of 10 percent is considered adequate.,The initial 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from January 18, 2012 was granted. The Veteran’s actinic keratosis claim was also granted due to service connection being reopened on new evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disorder, finding that there was no evidence of chronic right knee problems during active duty or within one year after discharge. The Board also found that the current right knee disorder is not related to military service and is not secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his lumbar spine, left shoulder, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations in December 2016. The new VA examinations conducted in July 2019 did not address the Veteran’s reports of flare-ups, which were previously evaluated as inadequate. Additional opinions are needed regarding the severity, frequency, and duration of any flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for low back, neck, right shoulder, left shoulder, right arm carpal tunnel syndrome, right knee, and left knee disorders. The Veteran's claims were also remanded for additional development regarding teeth grinding and sinusitis.,Service connection was not granted for a skin disorder due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left knee disability due to inadequate VA examinations conducted in March 2012 and August 2016. Another remand is required as the January 2020 VA examination did not comply with the requirements of Correia, and an addendum opinion related to the Veteran's March 2012 and August 2016 VA examinations is needed.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability is granted. His claims of increased ratings for various disabilities are remanded.