Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis and right ankle degenerative arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee meniscus tear with degenerative arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete VA examinations and lack of attempts to obtain treatment records from incarcerated facilities.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder was denied, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection for right and left knee conditions were also denied. The Veteran's right and left knee conditions are not considered secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder or related to any in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a more comprehensive medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's migraine headaches are secondary to his service-connected left knee meniscal tear and if so, whether it is at least as likely as not that the use of morphine caused or aggravated his migraines.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disability, finding that it is related to his documented in-service left knee issues and continuity of symptomatology since service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for major depressive disorder and osteochondritis dissecans with degenerative arthritis of the right knee are being remanded due to incomplete information or procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence for service connection of fibromyalgia. The decision on left knee disability remains denied.

The Veteran's bipolar disorder and other service-connected conditions have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a TDIU rating. The issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to July 6, 2015 is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's left knee sprain, instability, and scar are granted initial ratings. The Veteran's left ankle strain is granted an initial rating. Bilateral hearing loss remains denied. Service connection for rhinitis, gastrointestinal disorder (GERD), and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The Board found that the evidence supports the conclusion that the Veteran's left knee disability was caused by and related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left knee condition is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing a chronic disability in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The right knee condition, however, was diagnosed during service and requires further examination for proper adjudication.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The right ankle disability was not rated higher than 10%. Service connection for bilateral knee disorder, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and sleep apnea were all denied as new evidence did not relate to the unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical evidence for the Veteran's left knee disability claim.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, right knee disability, and bilateral pes planus due to lack of a valid diagnosis for PTSD and the absence of evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of her left knee condition, finding that there is no evidence linking her current condition to an in-service injury and that it does not meet the criteria for chronic conditions under 38 C.F.R. § 3.309.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lumbar spine DJD secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee disability was granted. Additionally, the temporary total evaluation of 100% assigned from January 24, 2014 through May 1, 2014 due to right knee surgery convalescence period was also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disorder, left knee strain, and right knee disability is remanded due to the need for additional examinations. The claims are also remanded for a higher rating of the right knee.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and a higher rating for spinal stenosis due to incomplete development of the claims, including the need for additional VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left calf injury is granted. The claims for right and left knee disabilities are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities are not currently rated appropriately and requires further examination to determine their current severity.