Knee Board decisions

The Board has decided to remand the claims for increased ratings due to new evidence of worsening symptoms, and requests authorization from the Veteran to obtain private treatment records related to his disabilities. The Veteran will be scheduled for VA examinations to assess the current severity of his lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, left carpal tunnel syndrome, and right carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his claimed conditions. The issues include left knee disorder, right knee disorder, type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke, and a psychiatric disorder (Bipolar Disorder and Manic Depression).

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee joint pain, including neuropathy, and limited motion of the left ankle, including neuropathy. The evidence did not establish a current disability or medical relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective date determinations due to inadequate examination reports. The issues are inextricably intertwined, so all claims must be addressed together.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability is granted, but the issue of determining the likely cause of any right knee disability remains pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional examinations and opinions to address the issues of service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ankle disability, left knee disability, and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for her left knee condition was granted in March 2016 with an effective date of November 4, 2015. The Board denied the request for an earlier effective date.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding various disabilities as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations related to his eye disability, migraine headaches, knee disabilities, and cervical spine arthritis due to incomplete development of records and need for further medical examination.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various conditions, including degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine and several knee disabilities. The Veteran's VA treatment records from Little Rock VAMC are to be obtained, as well as any recent VA treatment records. A new VA examination is needed to determine if any current lumbar spine disability is related to active service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations to determine the current severity of his bilateral knee disabilities and any functional loss due to flare-ups.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the permanent loss of use of his feet, meeting the eligibility criteria for financial assistance in purchasing an automobile or adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for pulmonary emphysema, left and right foot conditions, left and right knee conditions, low back condition, and COPD due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including knee and hip issues, neck and back problems, neurological disorders, and a psychiatric disability. The appeals are being returned to VA for further development.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed bilateral hip, shoulder, knee, ankle, and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities are not related to active service or any incident of service, including as due to a service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral knee disability and gastritis due to insufficient evidence of a nexus between current disabilities and military service. The Veteran's lay statements and treatment records provide competent evidence that his disabilities may be associated with service, but further examination is needed to determine if there is a link.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and ratings have been denied. The claim for dry eye syndrome due to PRK surgery was not reopened, while the remaining issues were denied.

The Board has granted service connection for left hip arthritis and denied service connection for right knee strain, venous thrombosis of the left lower extremity, and venous thrombosis of the right lower extremity.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence, including a lack of VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for dyslipidemia and has remanded the remaining issues related to spine conditions, joint disorders, hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, GERD, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disorders.