Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a headache disorder secondary to PTSD and major depressive disorder. The issues of increased ratings for left knee instability, right knee instability, left knee limitation of motion, and right knee limitation of motion are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sinus condition, headache condition, bilateral knee condition, gastrointestinal condition, and low back condition due to deficiencies in the VA examinations.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded the issues of service connection for blood clots in both legs, bilateral knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's claims are now pending again with VA.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of October 31, 2008 for a 20% rating for left knee instability. The Board found that the disability had not warranted a higher rating prior to February 8, 2010.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various disabilities, including left hand, right shoulder, neck, lower back, and left knee disabilities. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, sinus disorder, heart condition, hypertension, and breast cancer residuals are being remanded due to the need to verify her service dates and obtain missing records.,The Veteran's claims for right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and sinus disorder are being remanded as there may be missing VA treatment records and other relevant documents that must be obtained and associated with the claims file.,The Veteran's claim of heart condition is being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records from civilian doctors and provide a VA examination to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is being remanded as there may be missing private medical records that must be obtained and associated with the claims file, and a VA examination will also be provided to determine its etiology.,The Veteran's claim of breast cancer and its residuals is being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records from civilian doctors and provide a VA examination to determine its etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's degenerative arthritis contributed substantially and/or materially to his death. The VA examiner needs to provide an addendum opinion considering all relevant evidence, including articles submitted by the Veteran and a private physician’s opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lung condition, hypertension, and right knee disability. The lung condition was not related to active service or exposure to herbicides/ asbestos. Hypertension was not caused by service-connected diabetes or PTSD. Right knee disability was not incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete examination findings and additional development is required.

The Veteran's right knee disability is granted as service connected.,Service connection for GERD, to include as due to the Persian Gulf War service, is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disorder is related to his in-service injury from parachute jumps. The cervical, lumbar spine, knee, shoulder, and elbow disorders are remanded for additional medical opinions considering the Veteran's assertions about injuries sustained during parachute jumps.

The Board denied a higher initial disability rating for left knee arthritis, finding that the evidence did not warrant such a rating and that the current 10% rating was appropriate.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that additional development is needed. The right knee arthroplasty claim remains pending with the RO.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted, with the exception of her acquired psychiatric disorder claim. The other conditions are now considered to be related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and temporary total rating due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the causes of his right knee plateau tibial fracture and total knee replacement. The issues are inextricably intertwined, so both must be addressed together.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for right and left knee disabilities, but has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence. The appellant's testimony regarding continuity of symptoms following airborne jumps is considered new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for service connection and rating determinations. The additional VA treatment records need to be considered in the readjudication process.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and unclear medical opinions. The Veteran is requested to provide dates of her Reserve service periods, as well as any outstanding private treatment records relevant to her claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination findings. The AOJ is instructed to obtain updated medical records, particularly from Mexico, and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder was granted. Service connection for a right knee disorder and left knee disorder, both secondary to service-connected bilateral hammertoe, is denied. Service connection for a low back disorder, also secondary to service-connected bilateral hammertoe, is denied.