Knee Board decisions

The Board has ordered the case back to VA for further examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right knee disability, including gouty arthropathy with recurrent monoarticular arthritis, is related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD is dismissed. The appeal for an earlier effective date for right and left ankle disorders is denied. The appeals for initial ratings in excess of ten percent for the right and left ankles, as well as service connection for bilateral hip and knee disorders are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient consideration of certain evidence and a need for further development, including obtaining medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examination reports and the need for further development of his medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for various conditions, including a back disability, right foot disability, tinnitus, PTSD, hypertension, left knee and shoulder disabilities, as well as bilateral hearing loss and plantar fasciitis. The appeals are currently pending due to the need for additional medical records review.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the spine and arthritis of the fingers, but denied service connection for osteoarthritis of the knees.

The Veteran's left leg fracture with knee arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims.

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety disorder, but the case is remanded to determine if right knee degenerative arthritis should be considered secondary to left knee disability.

The Board denied service connection for various shoulder, wrist, ankle, hip, and knee conditions as well as a lumbar spine condition. The Veteran's claim was not reopened due to the nature of the appeal.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as service connected. The bilateral knees and thoracolumbar spine disability issues are remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a bilateral knee disorder have been denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his time in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim of service connection for a right knee condition, finding that new and material evidence was not presented sufficient to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability has been reopened, but the Board has remanded the case due to outstanding medical records and need for an addendum opinion.

The reductions in ratings for the Veteran's lumbar spine, left knee, and right knee disabilities were not proper and are void ab initio.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability began during his active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back and right hip disorders have been granted, but a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee DJD remains denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals for the restoration of ratings for right knee instability and hallux valgus, left great toe.

The Board denied service connection for right knee injury residuals, asthma, acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and posttraumatic stress disorder), epidermis removal, kidney stones, hypertension, transient ischemic attacks, cardiovascular disease, and a right lung disability.,There is no evidence of any chronic right knee disability during active duty or within one year after separation. The appellant's current right knee disability was not related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Board found that asthma did not manifest during active duty service and there is no indication it is related to an in-service disease or injury.,There is no evidence of a psychiatric disability during active duty service, nor within one year after separation. The appellant's current acquired psychiatric disability was not linked to his military service.,Epidermis removal was not noted in service records and there is no indication it is related to the appellant’s active service.,Hypertension did not manifest during active duty or within one year of discharge, nor is there any evidence linking it to an in-service disease or injury.,Transient ischemic attacks were not present during active duty or within one year after separation. There is no indication that post-service transient ischemic attack or its residuals are causally related to active service.,Cardiovascular disease did not manifest during active duty or within one year of discharge, nor is there any evidence linking it to an in-service disease or injury.,A right lung disability was not present during active duty or within one year after separation. There is no indication that the current right lung disability is causally related to active service.

The Board denied service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, finding that the current condition was not related to service and is not presumed due to a disease or injury incurred in service.