Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for osteoarthritis left knee. As a result, the claim is denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability has not increased in severity from a slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability to a level of moderate or severe warranting an increased rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted based on additional examination findings.

The Board denied service connection for right shoulder sprain, lower back muscle strain, left knee osteoarthritis, and headaches. The claim of PTSD was granted with new and material evidence.,PTSD was reopened but the claim remains pending as it has not been fully adjudicated.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for chondromalacia of the left knee was remanded due to insufficient information regarding functional loss during flare-ups. The case is now being returned for further development and an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has denied all service connection claims and increased rating claims for various conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist, sinusitis, obstructive sleep apnea, coronary artery disease (CAD), bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a sliding hiatal hernia with associated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) with noncardiac chest pain.

The Veteran's application to reopen her previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied. Her claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus, left and right lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome were also denied. The effective date of the award of service connection for diabetes mellitus remains September 6, 2013.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder is reopened, and the case is remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current condition and service.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion.,Service connection has been granted for left shoulder and lumbar spondylosis disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral flat feet, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and left ankle disorder. The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a back condition, and bilateral knee conditions have been reopened. However, the Board finds that there is no evidence to support these claims as they did not originate during service.

The Veteran's left knee osteoarthritis and meniscus issues have been rated, with a temporary total rating for the arthroplasty period from February 21, 2017 to March 31, 2018. As of April 1, 2018, he is granted a 30 percent rating for his status-post total left knee replacement.

The Board has found that there is sufficient evidence to trigger the duty to assist and a VA examination is needed for an opinion on whether the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions are related to his military service.

All appeals related to service connection and effective dates have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the Veteran's malaria and left wrist and knee disabilities. The Appellant is being asked to provide a statement of the case on her claims for increased ratings for these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea and erectile dysfunction were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.,Claims for increased ratings for lumbar spine disorder, left knee condition, right ankle disability, GERD, migraine headaches, and acquired psychiatric disorder were also denied.

The claim for service connection of a lumbar spine disability has been reopened and granted. The claims for left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, left hip condition, and left leg and knee condition have all been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her left knee disability and asthma are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a higher initial rating of 70 percent. The low back disability for the period prior to October 1, 2010 is remanded due to inadequate examination. The right knee disability is also remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for left knee disorder, right knee disorder, and lumbar spine disorder due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether these conditions were aggravated by active duty from October 2016 to September 2018.