Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, right knee disorder secondary to left knee disorder, and back disability have been granted. The appeals are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a TDIU prior to February 24, 2014, or due solely to a single service-connected disability from February 24, 2014, to January 9, 2017, and after March 1, 2018.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including subluxation or lateral instability and limitation of extension, is rated at 40 percent effective August 29, 2007 to October 4, 2007.

The Board denied service connection for left and right total knee replacements, as well as PTSD. The Veteran's current conditions are deemed not related to his military service.

The Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist and bilateral shoulder conditions are rated at 30 percent combined, meeting criteria for a TDIU on schedular basis. However, his cervical spine condition is remanded, and he does not meet the criteria for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from attending to the needs of nature, caring for himself, or protecting himself from the hazards of his environment. The Board finds that he is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee and low back conditions, which were related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The VA examiner is requested to provide a new opinion addressing these issues.

The Board denied service connection for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma to include as due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's right knee disabilities are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support higher ratings or service connection for the conditions listed, including shin splints, knee pain, ankle pain, sciatic nerve impingement, and tibial stress fracture.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee strain, left ankle sprain, tinea pedis, hearing loss, and dry eye syndrome. The AOJ must consider new evidence before making a decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disability, low back disability, and obstructive sleep apnea due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service records were not provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disorder is a direct result of his in-service injuries and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's initial evaluations for vitiligo, sleep apnea, hypertension, bilateral plantar fasciitis, TMJ syndrome, right forearm laceration scar, Bechet's disease with intermittent flares of iritis, acne, mouth ulcers, and joint pain are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.,The Veteran's initial evaluations for left ring finger fracture and left little finger fracture are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of a left knee disorder, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's current condition is related to his service-connected hip disorder. The case will be sent back for an addendum opinion from a VA clinician.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and determinations regarding his service-connected conditions, including increased ratings for Tension Headache Disability, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (including Major Depressive Disorder), Bilateral Epicondylitis of the Right and Left Elbows, and GERD.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an ulcer has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Board has remanded several issues including left shoulder, right wrist and right-hand disabilities, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, right ankle disability, left ankle disability, residuals of fractured ribs, bilateral hearing loss, gastritis, hemorrhoids, and migraine headaches for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, as well as an acquired psychiatric disability. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions to address the etiology of these conditions and verify the Veteran's claimed stressors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain or maintain gainful employment, and his claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee patellofemoral syndrome was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261.

The Board has granted service connection for a right knee disability and denied service connection for left knee, back, left heel, left shoulder, and right rib fracture conditions. The effective date remains pending as the Veteran did not submit a formal application within one year of receiving an informal claim.