Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's low back disability and dismissed his claim for left knee disability.

The Veteran's bilateral ankle and knee disabilities, as well as his bilateral hearing loss disability, were not shown to have had their onset in service or within one year of discharge. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.,Service connection was denied for all three conditions due to a lack of evidence showing a direct link between the disabilities and service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for a right knee rating and TDIU due to evidence of worsening since his last VA examination, and because income information is needed from 2005 to present. The Veteran will need a new VA examination to assess the severity of his right knee disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for low back strain, major depressive disorder and anxiety, and bilateral knee disorder due to inadequate examinations and incomplete opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, right knee arthritis, a foot disability (plantar fibromatosis), and lower spine arthritis. The issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are also being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment prior to October 16, 2018.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to inadequate examinations and the need to obtain additional medical records.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date is also being remanded as it is dependent on the outcome of his other claims.

The Board has dismissed the issues of increased disability ratings for lumbar spine and left ankle disabilities. The claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and right ankle disabilities are remanded due to lack of evidence addressing their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of reopening service connection for bilateral ankle, knee, and back disabilities due to incomplete information from a VA provider.

Service connection for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral syndrome is rated at 10 percent, and her constrictive bronchiolitis with exercise induced asthma was initially rated at 10 percent prior to March 31, 2016, and then increased to 60 percent from that date onwards.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and several joint conditions, require the need for aid and attendance due to his inability to dress himself and manage his daily needs.

The Veteran's hearing loss in the right ear is currently rated as 10 percent disabling from November 13, 2017. The Board has remanded for additional development regarding service connection claims for low back and bilateral knee disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left ankle, right ankle, left hand, right hand, left knee, and right knee has been granted.,Service connection for osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lower back and neck have also been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence, and requests additional VA treatment records and a private physician's opinion.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate VA examinations and inconsistent evidence regarding knee instability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee condition was reopened, and he is now entitled to an increased rating of 30% for his right knee patellofemoral syndrome. His PTSD symptoms have been rated at the highest available level (70%) since July 24, 2012. The Veteran has also been granted TDIU.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and correctly decide the claims for service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the knees and legs, tendonitis of the knees, a bilateral foot disability, residuals of a cold weather injury (frostbite), skin disorder (eczema), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).

The Board denied service connection for left and right foot disabilities, as well as left and right knee disabilities. The Veteran's preexisting flat feet were not aggravated by service, and his current symptoms are attributable to intercurrent causes.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and an addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's left knee disorder is related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete development of records, including VA treatment records from Washington, DC and Norfolk, Virginia. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be affected by the outcome of the other claims.