Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded two claims: one for service connection for a right knee disability and another for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and panic disorder. The right knee claim is remanded due to the need for VA examination and medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the claimed right knee disability. The psychiatric disorder claim is remanded because evidence pertaining to the Veteran's alleged military sexual trauma (MST) incidents has not been provided.,The Board also noted that the Veteran’s service records indicate she served from May 1983 to June 1985, and her current diagnoses include PTSD, MDD, and panic disorder. The Veteran testified during a hearing before the Board that her gait was altered by her service-connected lumbar spine disability which worsened her knee.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-service existence or aggravation during service. The Board concluded that the Veteran’s current condition is more likely due to his work in heavy labor post-service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 30, 2006 for his TDIU due to unemployability caused by service-connected disabilities. The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran became unemployable within a year before filing his claim.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his service-connected disabilities have been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board denied a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not precluded from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board granted service connection for left upper extremity cervical radiculopathy and an initial 20 percent rating for degenerative joint disease right knee, status post arthroscopy meniscal surgery from November 19, 2013 to June 14, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his hypertension and service connection claims.,His left and right knee disabilities are currently rated as 10 percent each, with no higher ratings being granted.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including back, left knee, right knee, gastrointestinal issues, PTSD, and memory loss/Alzheimer's/dementia. The primary reason was the lack of a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for right wrist ulnocarpal impaction syndrome, patellar subluxation of the right knee, surgically repaired right ankle sprain, and left knee disorder due to insufficient evidence from previous VA examinations. The Veteran will need to be scheduled for additional VA examinations.

The claim to reopen service connection for right knee disability is granted. The claims for increased ratings for left knee instability and osteoarthritis are denied, with the latter being remanded due to new evidence indicating ankylosis. The claim for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection for acquired psychiatric disability and TDIU are also remanded.

The Veteran's auditory condition is not service-connected as there is no current diagnosis of a hearing loss disability for VA purposes.,The Veteran's right knee condition is secondary to his service-connected back condition and has been granted service connection.

The Veteran's right knee instability and meniscus problems are granted a 10% rating, while his left knee arthritis is granted a 10% rating. The cervical spine and lumbar spine disabilities remain denied.

The Board has determined that a new examination is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee osteoarthritis and right knee meniscal tear with osteoarthritis, to include scars. The examiner must determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not yet determined if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's osteoarthritis of the right and left knees is being remanded for further examination to assess current severity.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD has been reopened, and the Board finds that new and material evidence has been received to support these claims. Service connection is granted for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders).

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10 percent for the entire appeal period, with a separate 20 percent rating from March 19, 2018.,A higher initial evaluation of 10 percent or more for the left knee condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the service connection claims for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, pes planus, and back disorder. The TDIU claim is dismissed.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection of left knee disability, left ankle disability, and psoriasis. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and to schedule a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral knee osteoarthritis and back condition are granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's painful left elbow is denied as not having a current diagnosis related to service. ,The Veteran's residuals of decompression sickness are denied as there is no current diagnosis.