Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded two issues related to the Veteran's knees, requesting additional development and an addendum opinion from the August 2019 VA examiner.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including gunshot wounds, hearing loss, tinnitus, joint diseases, and disabilities of the elbows, shoulders, wrists, ankles, knees, lumbar spine, cervical spine, esophageal cancer, skin disorders, heart issues, respiratory problems, and memory loss. The decision was based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and a need for further development, including an additional VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's current knee conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right hip and right knee disorders were not incurred in service, but have been remanded for further development to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for bipolar disorder has been reopened and granted. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, high cholesterol, tinnitus, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder), and sleep disorder are all remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting left knee disability was aggravated during his second period of service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right shoulder disorder is denied, but the claim for a right knee disorder is granted.

The Board has decided that the claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, which are secondary to service-connected foot disabilities, need further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right knee disability and hypertension, and has remanded the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to November 20, 2015. The case is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran was granted TDIU from September 1, 2011 to February 23, 2012 due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful occupation.,The effective date for the grant of PTSD on the basis of CUE is denied as the Certificate submitted by the Veteran was already in the file when the June 2003 rating decision denying service connection for PTSD was issued.,An increased rating for hemorrhoids from September 1, 2011 is remanded due to missing VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee disorder, including his contention that it is related to his service-connected left knee condition and treatment records from 1991-2004.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and consideration of functional loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a groin disability is being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions. The claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for left knee chondromalacia remains denied.

The Board denied service connection for low back, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, right knee, and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disabilities require additional development due to inadequate examination and remanded for a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee degenerative arthritis is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is related to his service or running in unsupportive shoes during basic training. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of recent VA examination and the Veteran's contention of knee instability. The Veteran is being asked to provide updated private or VA treatment records, and an appropriate VA examination will be conducted.

The Veteran's hypertension was denied as it did not have its clinical onset in service or within one year of separation from service and is not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran's left ankle disability was denied as it did not have its clinical onset in service or within one year of separation from service and is not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran's right ankle disability was denied as it did not have its clinical onset in service or within one year of separation from service and is not otherwise related to service.,The Veteran's right knee disability was remanded due to the need for a VA examination.