Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left and right knee disabilities have been denied as the evidence does not show that either condition warrants a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide agent exposure is granted. The right below-the-knee amputation claim is remanded as it may be related to the service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for systemic arthritis, lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disabilities, bilateral heel disabilities, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The decision also remanded several issues including service connection for a dental condition.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are needed to properly assess the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including their current severity and any functional impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee disability is related to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's petition to reopen several service connection claims was granted, including for high blood pressure, a neurological disorder manifested by shaking arms, bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and right knee disability. Other claims were remanded.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to January 18, 2017, for service connection of various conditions were denied.,Claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbosacral spine, left knee meniscal injury, PTSD, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, and a left knee scar were also denied.

The Board denied the application to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a below the knee amputation, secondary to coronary artery disease. The reduction from 100 percent to 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder was found proper.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder pain, chronic low back pain, right knee pain, and right foot pain. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding service connection for erectile dysfunction and whether it is related to exposure at Camp Lejeune or medication for service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to a lack of VA medical records prior to 2011 and since 2017. The Veteran is asked to provide any relevant private medical records, including those from his separation from military service through the present.

The Board has found that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to inadequate examinations. The VA needs to schedule new examinations to assess the severity of his knee disabilities and thoracolumbar spine disability, including any flare-ups.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the submission of additional VA medical records since May 2016. These issues will be reconsidered with these new records included.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating. The Veteran also had his petition to reopen his service-connected hypertension/high blood pressure claim denied. His TDIU claim was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a schedular TDIU due to his combined disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee condition, finding that there was no evidence to support an in-service injury and insufficient lay statements to establish continuity of symptoms after separation from active duty.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for right knee disorder, left knee disorder (to include as secondary to a service-connected disorder), and back disorder. The evidence did not establish an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Board has denied reopening of previously denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee and foot disorders, heart disorder, eye injury residuals, Meniere’s Syndrome, degenerative arthritis of the upper extremities, left shoulder injury, right wrist disorder, fractured ribs, ear disorder (excluding hearing loss), tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, bleeding disorder, and diabetes mellitus. The Board also remanded for further action on a claim for service connection for a left wrist disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities. The appeals are not about service connection via a presumption, exposure to herbicide, or any other specific theory of entitlement.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded as the Board cannot make a fully-informed decision without addressing whether her gynecological conditions and hepatic cysts clearly and unmistakably preexisted service, and if so, whether they were clearly and unmistakably aggravated by service.,The Veteran is also being asked to provide information about any private medical treatment she has received for these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder was denied. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for rheumatoid arthritis of the wrists, hands, left ankle, right ankle, left knee, and right knee were all denied.