Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability, to include as secondary to his service-connected right knee degenerative arthritis. The case is being returned to the AOJ for an addendum opinion from the August 2017 VA examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection and petitions to reopen his previously denied claims require additional development, including obtaining outstanding records from VA treatment facilities, Army hospitals, workers' compensation claims, and Social Security Administration. The AOJ must also schedule a VA examination to evaluate the Veteran's right shoulder disability.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection and rating issues related to head injuries, knee conditions, tinnitus, and hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a right arm condition is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the current disability is not related to service.,The effective date for the grant of service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is denied because the earliest communication prior to November 6, 2014 did not constitute a claim for this condition.,Service connection for bilateral feet disability and bilateral degenerative joint disease/arthritis of the knees secondary to service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded due to inadequate etiology opinions in the June 2015 VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for service-connected lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis of the spine is remanded as the January 2015 VA Back Conditions Disability Benefits Questionnaire did not provide information on additional limitation of motion due to flare-ups or repeated use over time.,The Veteran's claim for an acquired psychiatric disability is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability is related to service. Additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing a new opinion on the etiology of the condition, is required.

The Veteran's appeal was denied on all issues related to service connection, with the exception of a right eye condition which had no effective date assigned. The denial is based on lack of evidence linking any current conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee impairment is secondary to his service-connected right knee condition and grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease was denied, but his claim for unspecified depressive disorder with opioid use disorder in remission was granted and effective from January 5, 2011. The decision is mixed as it includes both a grant of service connection and denial of another issue.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are granted secondary to his service-connected back and ankle disabilities. The Veteran's bilateral upper extremity neurological disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee strain, left knee arthritis, right hip arthritis, and left hip arthritis. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service injury and progression.

The Veteran's chronic knee strain, patella enthesopathy of the right knee is granted a separate compensable rating. The Veteran's chronic knee strain, patella enthesopathy of the left knee and limitation of extension of both knees are denied.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for the year 2017 is granted due to his service-connected left knee meniscal tear, right knee strain, and limitation of motion. The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran’s use of bilateral knee braces caused wear and tear on his clothing.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities have been denied. The Board has also remanded the issue of service connection for a left shoulder disability due to insufficient medical evidence.

The Board has decided that the Veteran has a left and right knee condition, but remands for further examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for a right knee disability and a low back disability, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's right knee replacement rating was reduced from 60% to 30%, effective March 1, 2016. The reduction is being remanded due to the lack of a proper VA examination and because the Veteran testified that his condition has not improved since the last examination.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for tinnitus has been denied as there is no legal basis to award a higher rating.,The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations of his right shoulder impingement, lumbosacral strain, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have all been remanded due to inadequate VA examinations.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has also been remanded as the VA examination was found invalid.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee, left knee, and low back disabilities. The claim of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) is being remanded.,Service connection was established for the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and low back conditions based on direct evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including left shoulder disability, right knee disability, hypertension, asthma, sleep apnea, bilateral foot fungus, and facial skin rash. The claims are being remanded for further examination and medical opinions.