Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities and for a TDIU. Additional evidence is needed, including VA examination results that comply with Correia and Sharp standards, and development of the TDIU claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of PTSD, and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied. The remaining issues related to left knee replacement, lumbosacral degenerative arthritis with IVDS, left lower extremity sciatica, and costochondritis with rib subluxation and left breast numbness are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee ACL tear status post reconstruction is as likely as not related to her active duty service injury and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities require the aid and attendance of another person, which grants him special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability as secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities. The claims for increased ratings for left and right knees, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and need for updated examinations.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, degenerative joint disease of the left hip, left knee medial meniscus tear, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The issues have been remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the need for further development and adjudication. The Veteran's claims for left ear hearing loss, sleep apnea, hypertension, headaches, colonic diverticula (claimed as abdominal pain), low back disability, right knee disability, left leg disability, right leg disability, right ankle disability, right foot disability, and kidney disability are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and right knee degenerative arthritis due to inadequate opinions in the original decision. The Veteran is also seeking service connection for his left knee strain with degenerative arthritis, but this claim was not addressed in the original decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including sleep apnea, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, hip disorders, ankle disorders, and bilateral knee and hearing loss. The reasons for remand include needing to address whether obesity caused or aggravated these conditions due to PTSD or diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bronchitis is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.,Service connection for periodontal disease (claimed as gingivitis) is denied because it is not a compensable disability under VA regulations.,The Veteran's right knee disorder and digestive disorder, to include pancreatitis and cholecystectomy residuals, are remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of these conditions.,Service connection for the digestive disorder (claimed as pancreatitis and cholecystectomy residuals) is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional review of new VA treatment records submitted since the last Statement of the Case. The issues include rating and service connection for various conditions, including a left knee disability, tinnitus, laceration of the right eye, skin rash (itching), headaches secondary to the laceration, vision loss, ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, hypertension to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, sleep apnea to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, hyperechoic liver mass to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and hyperlipidemia.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for a right knee disability prior to April 27, 2015 and an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for a right shoulder disability. The Board dismissed these issues.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and left knee disorder are granted service connection, but his right foot disorder is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, increased evaluations for his left and right knee disabilities, and will consider new evidence to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and meniscectomy residuals, is rated at 30 percent effective October 10, 2013. A TDIU was granted prior to July 28, 2015.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for right knee disability, left knee disability, and low back disability due to inadequate examination findings. New examinations are required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for higher ratings related to his right lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, and left knee degenerative joint disease require additional development due to the need for updated VA treatment records and examinations.

The Veteran's left knee disability symptoms more nearly approximated instability of mild severity.,The Veteran's right knee disability symptoms more nearly approximated instability of mild severity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability was aggravated by service, but more evidence is needed to determine if there is a causal relationship between his current condition and military service.