Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims for erectile dysfunction, headache disorder, GERD, and skin disorders. The Veteran's PTSD is also being examined to determine its current severity.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his left knee condition, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic disability near the time of separation from service and that any current left knee disability is not related to service or service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability due to insufficient medical evidence regarding its etiology and potential aggravation by service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's lumbosacral spine disorder, right-knee disorder, and left-knee disorder have been evaluated at a maximum of 40 percent since December 12, 2018. The claims for increased evaluations prior to that date are denied.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on hemorrhoids, right knee disability, sinusitis, and hypothyroidism are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for right knee, right hip, and left hip disorders as secondary to service-connected disabilities due to insufficient medical opinions in the March 2017 VA examination. The Veteran's hypertension and CAD are also being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for Osgood-Schlatter's Disease (OSD), bilateral knee arthritis, and an acquired psychiatric disability due to OSD. The AOJ is required to schedule a VA examination to determine if OSD clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was aggravated by service.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a chest rash, a right knee disorder, and hypertension as the evidence does not support a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee meniscus tear status post total knee arthroplasty. The claims for left and right leg disabilities are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for right and left knee disabilities, as well as his claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), are being remanded due to the Veteran withdrawing his appeals.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected left foot pes planus and/or left ankle disability aggravated his obesity, which may have contributed to his bilateral knee degenerative joint disease.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and further development is needed, including obtaining Reserve unit records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee condition was granted a separate rating of 20 percent for meniscus condition, and the left knee condition was granted a 60 percent rating due to chronic residuals post-total knee replacement surgery. Both conditions were granted effective from January 5, 2009.

The Veteran was previously denied TDIU for the period prior to March 26, 2009 due to lack of schedular criteria. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from engaging in gainful employment during this time.,For the period from March 26, 2009 to September 11, 2012, the Veteran was granted TDIU as his service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee degenerative arthritis and chondromalacia patella, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not related to his active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD due to personal trauma, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a left knee condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral foot and knee conditions due to insufficient examination reports addressing whether service connection can be granted based on aggravation of pre-existing conditions. The Veteran contends his current conditions are aggravated by military activities, while VA examiners have found no increase in severity during service.

The application to reopen the claim for bilateral knee condition is denied.,The application to reopen the claim for bilateral pes planus (claimed as a bilateral feet disability) is granted. The issue of service connection for sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The heart disorder claim is also remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's left knee instability is now rated at 10 percent effective from September 20, 1999. The issue of increased ratings for left knee limitation of extension and instability remains pending.