Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left ankle and left knee disabilities, as secondary to his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his military service due to continuous symptoms since separation.

The Veteran's hypertension was not found to warrant a compensable rating as the evidence did not show diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or greater.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied due to lack of in-service onset and no evidence that it manifested within one year post-separation from service.,Peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities was found secondary to diabetes mellitus, which is not service-connected. The Veteran's back condition, bilateral knee condition, bilateral hip condition, and bilateral foot condition were also denied as they are not service-connected.,Service connection for a right wrist condition was denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, headaches, and right knee disorder due to insufficient evidence. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's spine disability and left knee disability are granted service connection. The right knee, hip, and foot disorders remain pending.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the issues are now moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee condition is granted as secondary to his right ankle condition. Service connection for low back and tinnitus conditions are denied.

The Veteran's application to reopen his previously denied claims for bilateral hearing loss, right hip disability, left hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability was granted. However, the claims for lumbar spine disability were denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating greater than 20 percent for a right knee disability from April 1, 2009.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including instability and meniscal condition, is granted with separate ratings of 10 percent for each. The rating for residuals of right knee strain remains denied.

The Veteran's lumbar strain and left knee condition were denied initial ratings in excess of the assigned disability ratings. The lumbar strain was rated at 10% prior to March 25, 2019, and 20% thereafter. The left knee condition was also rated at 10% prior to March 25, 2019, and 20% thereafter.

The Veteran's cervical spine disability, thoracolumbar spine disability, right knee torn meniscus repair with residual arthralgia (right knee disability), and left shoulder disability were all denied increased ratings. The Veteran's hypertension was also denied an increased rating.,For the initial rating period from April 29, 2016, a compensable disability rating for right knee limitation of extension was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for PTSD, right knee disability, and TDIU due to incomplete procedures in issuing a statement of the case (SOC) and unclear values reported by the VA examiner regarding the Veteran's right knee extension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back and right knee disabilities due to outstanding VA treatment records, private treatment records, and Social Security Administration disability benefits records. The Veteran will be scheduled for an examination to determine if his current low back disability is related to in-service injury or event.

The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, bilateral ankle disorder, and hypertension. The Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.,Service connection was denied as there is no evidence of chronic disability within one year post-service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate examinations and evidence. The issues include back disorder, plantar fasciitis, left knee scar with keloid, and sarcoidosis.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for dizziness, headache disability, right knee disability, neck disability, and left arm disability are remanded due to missing VA treatment records.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea with fatigue is granted as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).,Service connection for fatigue is denied, as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that it is unrelated to his obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for major depressive disorder was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating of 100 percent.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for surgical scars of the back was also denied, as there were no disabling effects not considered in ratings provided under other Diagnostic Codes.

The Veteran's right ankle condition is granted service connection as it is related to his service-connected multiple sclerosis.,There is no evidence of a left foot, left ankle, or left knee condition during the pendency of the claim.