Knee Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but the cases of left and right knee disabilities are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left knee disability and a lumbar spine disability, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The claim to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD is granted. The Veteran's left knee disability and right foot injury (5th metatarsal fracture) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and rating for bilateral knee disorders due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's private physician diagnosed patellar maltracking, but VA examinations did not provide a nexus opinion.

The Board has ordered the Veteran's claims remanded for further examinations to reconcile inconsistent physical findings and determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings prior to September 27, 2002 have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased ratings were dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues related to effective dates.

The Board has granted service connection for left knee DJD, cervical spine DJD and spondylosis, and headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right and left foot disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus was withdrawn during the October 2017 Board hearing. The claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition and a respiratory condition (claimed as asthma) have been reopened due to new and material evidence.,The remaining issues, including lumbar spine, bilateral knee, bilateral foot, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorders, are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional clarification and evidence regarding the Veteran's left knee disability. The claim will be reconsidered after this is completed.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disability was denied. The issue of an increased rating for his left knee disability is granted with a new rating of 10%. The issues of service connection for left shin/lower leg and right foot disabilities are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the issue of service connection for bilateral knee disability. The decision on sleep apnea is that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability as there was no evidence of a current disability, in-service injury or disease, and the Veteran's claim is not supported by credible medical evidence.

The Veteran's right knee arthritis and instability are rated at 10% before June 11, 2015. A separate 10% rating is granted for instability of the right knee. The Veteran's status post-right total knee replacement (TKR) is rated at 60% since August 1, 2016.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disability, bilateral ankle disability, migraine and cluster headaches, plantar fasciitis, right foot, bilateral hip disability, and bilateral knee disability is granted. The issues of service connection for these conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated at 10% based on limitation of motion, but no higher. Separate ratings have been granted for instability and removal of the semilunar cartilage.,Service connection has been established for PTSD and depression with an effective date set at February 18, 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as the evidence did not establish a link to active service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability was denied because there is no evidence that his current condition began during or is related to his military service. ,The Veteran's claim for service connection for back disability was granted, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to an injury sustained in active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for osteoarthritis of the left knee prior to September 18, 2017 and an evaluation in excess of 40 percent thereafter is granted. The issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 100 percent for COPD on and after May 9, 2018 remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine, left hip, left knee, and right knee disorders as they are not causally or etiologically related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability is denied as there is no evidence of disease or injury in service.,The Veteran's low back disability does not meet the criteria for an increased rating higher than 60 percent, and his PTSD warrants a 70% initial disability rating but no higher.,The Veteran has been granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.