Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions. The issues include bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, shin splints, shoulder disorders, frostbite, psychiatric conditions, traumatic brain injury, headaches, wrist, hip, ankle, knee, elbow, little finger, plantar fasciitis, joint pain, back pain, neck pain, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, skin disorder, and eye problems.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral peripheral neuropathy and left knee disability was denied. The Board found no evidence linking the disabilities to his military service, including herbicide exposure. For the left knee disability, a rating in excess of 10 percent prior to December 6, 2011, and from February 1, 2013, was also denied.

The Veteran's right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is rated at 10 percent, and his thoracolumbar spine strain with degenerative disc disease is currently rated at 20 percent. The Board denied higher ratings for both conditions.

The Board denied increased disability ratings for the Veteran's left and right knee meniscal tears, as well as non-compensable ratings for limitation of extension in both knees. The appeal was based on service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a right hand disorder, right knee disorder, and respiratory disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.,No current disability was found for the respiratory disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of left knee is granted, as are his claims for secondary service connection for right knee and lumbosacral strain disabilities. The Veteran's left shoulder disability claim was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been received. The right knee disability, sleep apnea condition (including as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II), and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities are all being reviewed again.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee conditions have been found to be etiologically related to his residuals of a total right hip replacement. His claims for increased ratings and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of low back, left knee, and left ankle disabilities due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all the claims currently before the Board, including increased ratings for various conditions and a compensable rating for early giant papillary conjunctivitis.

The Board has remanded several issues for further examination and opinion, including right shoulder, low back, bilateral knee, right foot ingrown toenails, sinus disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left shoulder, right shoulder, lower back, left knee, and right knee disabilities.,Further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the claim for an increased rating higher than 20 percent for left shoulder strain. The claims for service connection for right and left ankle disabilities, as well as for right shoulder and left knee DJD, were granted. The cases for entitlement to increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and right knee chronic strain with arthritis are remanded.

The Veteran's increased rating claim for his left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any right knee disorder or disability, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. For his adjustment disorder with mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct, there is no evidence showing it was incurred during active duty. The claim for personality disorder is also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee conditions due to lack of evidence linking current diagnoses to service.,Service connection was also denied for hypertension as there is no indication in the records that it began during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of the left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, right hip, and left knee as secondary to service-connected right knee disability due to a lack of an opinion addressing whether these conditions are caused or aggravated by the service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disability and hypertension has been granted. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise, thus resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left knee instability is granted at a 20 percent rating, effective from May 4, 2009 to February 11, 2014. The right knee instability and gout of both knees are each granted at a 60 percent rating, effective from February 11, 2014. Rhinosinusitis is granted at a 60 percent rating, effective from August 18, 2017.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if there is current treatment for the right knee and to assess its etiology. The lumbar spine disability and radiculopathy are also being reviewed.