Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions. The Veteran will be provided with additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea was reopened and granted.,The reduction in the disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent for the Veteran’s service-connected left knee partial meniscectomy is granted, effective February 1, 2010. However, the propriety of this reduction remains under review as a separate issue.,Ratings in excess of 10 percent are denied for the Veteran's service-connected left knee DJD, right knee residuals of partial anterior cruciate ligament deficiency and meniscus tear, and right knee DJD.

The Veteran's RLE radiculopathy is now rated at 20 percent effective from February 15, 2018. Other conditions remain unchanged.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for arthritis of the back, knees, and fingers due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The claim for traumatic brain injury is remanded as the VA examination was not conducted by a designated specialist.

The Board denied service connection for OSA, tachycardia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), residuals of a shrapnel wound to the head, and a right knee disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were otherwise related to in-service injuries or diseases.,The Board found no indication of any current disabilities for OSA, tachycardia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), residuals of a shrapnel wound to the head, and a right knee disability. The Veteran's statements regarding these conditions were not credible.

The Veteran's left knee arthritis and instability are rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision. Prior to December 15, 2016, a separate rating for instability was denied. From that date onwards, no higher ratings were granted.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for low back disorder, neck disorder, right knee disorder, and stomach cancer due to additional pertinent service records being requested from Camp Pendleton.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for DJD, left knee and post-phlebitic syndrome with venous stasis, left leg due to insufficient factual support in the opinions provided by his private physician and VA examiner. A new examination is required.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as related to service due to noise exposure.,Bilateral knee osteoarthritis is also granted, with the condition being linked to military service.

The Veteran's GERD, gout, and hypertension are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection is also granted for the left knee disorder (including PO residuals of ACL reconstruction) and right shoulder disability (including arthritis).,However, service connection is denied for the left shoulder disability (including arthritis).

The claim for service connection of a left knee disorder is reopened due to new evidence received after the November 2011 denial. The back disorder and bilateral hearing loss issues are remanded as VA examinations are needed.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 20 percent for right knee osteoarthritis, finding that the Veteran's disability picture does not warrant such an increase based on his reported symptoms and examination findings.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lower back, right knee, skin condition on the left foot, and headache conditions. The case is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete service personnel records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for VA examinations and additional evidence regarding his service connection claims.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records and contemporaneous VA examinations are necessary to properly evaluate the Veteran's left shoulder and left knee disabilities, as the current evidence is insufficient for a determination.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disorder is reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any left knee disorder.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 10% for arthritis and a separate 10% rating for the residuals of meniscectomy. The lumbosacral strain with degenerative disease was granted a 20% rating prior to June 12, 2017, but denied any higher rating after that date.,The Veteran's TDIU claim for the period before January 28, 2011 is also remanded.

The Board denied service connection for right and left knee disorders, finding that the Veteran's osteoarthritis was not related to her military service.

The Board has determined that the claims for a back condition and bilateral knee conditions need to be remanded due to incomplete records and inadequate examination reports. The Veteran's claim for higher ratings for his knees also needs to be remanded.