Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability due to its change in state since her last examination.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling since November 13, 2014. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to lack of objective clinical findings of instability and pain during flare-ups.

The Board denied service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and Barrett's Esophagus as the evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder, glaucoma, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a relationship to active duty service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and an uncompleted VA examination for evaluating the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded several claims related to the Veteran's hip and knee disabilities, as well as his lumbar strain. The main issues are for a higher rating in excess of 20 percent for various hip and knee conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if his conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right-hand contusion, residuals of a varicocelectomy, chronic lumbar myofascial strain, and bilateral hearing loss as the evidence did not support current diagnoses or a link to military service.

The Board denied service connection for chronic bronchitis, left ankle disorder, bilateral knee disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and cervical spine disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims. The Board found that there is no link between any of the disabilities and active duty service.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, left knee strain with arthralgia, and right knee strain with arthralgia. The acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service, the knee conditions were noted as chronic in service, and there is continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board found that the reduction of the disability rating for left knee instability from 20 percent to 0 percent effective April 1, 2018 was proper due to actual improvement in symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records, incomplete service personnel records, and the need for additional medical opinions regarding his right knee disability, headaches, acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Veteran's appeal is about the rating for his left knee extension disability, which was previously rated as 0 percent. The Board has decided to remand this issue due to lack of recent clinical records and a need for an updated examination.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination. The Veteran's hypertension claim needs a VA medical opinion to determine if it pre-existed service or was aggravated by service, while his left knee disorder claim requires an addendum opinion to address whether any current condition is related to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions in a previous VA examination regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral knee condition is secondary to his service-connected back and hip conditions. The examiner needs to provide a more comprehensive opinion addressing both causation and aggravation.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral knee pain, left ankle pain, and bilateral hearing loss due to a significant gap in medical records between service and VA treatment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right lower leg disability, but the issues related to his lumbosacral strain, headache disability, right patellar enthesophyte (right knee condition), and increased rating for left knee chondromalacia remain remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea were both found to have onset during service, leading to their grant of service connection. The Board also granted remand for further examination on the left knee disability and pes planus with plantar fasciitis.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities require additional VA examinations and records to determine their current severity, and therefore remanded these issues for further action.