Knee Board decisions

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment due to her service-connected low back degenerative disc disease with bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, exercise-induced asthma, and chronic right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened and granted. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims, including treatment records indicating a diagnosis of PTSD. Secondary service connection was also granted for GERD. Other issues were remanded for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for post-operative total left hip replacement, a left knee condition (claimed as a left leg condition), bilateral shoulder conditions (claimed as secondary to non-service connected left hip and left leg conditions), and a right hip condition (claimed as secondary to non-service connected left hip and left leg conditions).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability and entitlement to TDIU due to lack of evidence showing that his right knee disabilities caused or aggravated his left knee disability, and because he had other skills and education that allowed him to work.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and bilateral foot gout due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.,No current disability was found in any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury, previously characterized as headaches, was reopened. The Board found new and material evidence to support the reopening of this claim. Service connection is granted for bilateral knee disorder, bilateral shoulder disorder, right hand disorder, and back disorder. However, service connection for residuals of flesh wound of the right leg is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and an opinion regarding whether her service-connected disabilities render her permanently and totally disabled.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence and internal inconsistencies in the Veteran's claims file. The Veteran will need to provide VA treatment records, including those related to orthopedic treatment, and an examination will be scheduled to determine if his prescribed appliances and medications cause damage to his clothing.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection. Service connection for bilateral shoulder disorder, bilateral knee disorder, tinea pedis, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depression), and bruxism are all denied.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement is rated at 30 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's right total knee replacement was initially rated at 60 percent and then reduced to 30 percent. The appeal is for an increased rating in excess of 60 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient opinions regarding his lumbar spine disability and bilateral knee disabilities, as well as the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has denied service connection for multiple musculoskeletal disabilities, including right shoulder, left shoulder, back, right knee, left knee, right shin splints, left shin splints, right hand, and left hand disabilities. The claims are based on the Veteran's active duty service in Afghanistan.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including back condition, dental condition, left hip condition, right hip condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, and bilateral foot condition, all related to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of any of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder of the left hand, back and stomach/abdominal area has been reopened. Service connection is granted for PTSD, depressive disorder and panic disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, residuals of circumcision (penile pain), metatarsalgia with hammertoe, right knee disorder and left knee disorder are all denied.

The Board has denied an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss and has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection for a bilateral knee disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to several issues, including service connection for left lower extremity disorders and chronic kidney disease. The Veteran's current service-connected condition does not support a grant of service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases due to issues related to scheduling a VA examination for assessing the severity of the Veteran's bilateral knee and right hip disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee patellofemoral syndrome. The cases of right knee and right ankle conditions, as well as the claim for a higher rating for left lateral malleolus avulsion fracture are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for right knee disability, cervical spine disability, left knee disability, and hemorrhoids due to lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service. The cases are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for shoulder, bilateral knee, right ankle, and neck disorders due to new and material evidence submitted since the April 2005 rating decision. However, further development is needed as the VA examiners did not consider all relevant in-service treatment records and the nature of the current disabilities.