Knee Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder and left knee degenerative joint disease, both secondary to service-connected bilateral pes planus. The Veteran is advised to submit any additional medical evidence and a VA examination will be conducted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not been properly evaluated and requires additional examinations to determine their current severity.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disorder, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his right knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for residuals of left TKR is denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show severe painful motion or weakness in the left knee, which would warrant a higher rating under DCs 5055, 5256, 5261, and 5262.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petitions to reopen his claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, left hip disorder, and left knee disorder, all secondary to his service-connected left ankle osteoarthritis. Service connection is now established for these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left knee disability. The Veteran needs a new VA examination to determine if his current left knee disability is related to service, including incidents noted in STRs and any aggravation by his right knee disability.

The Veteran's right knee disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current condition related to service.,Service connection for shin splints, right ankle disability, and left ankle strain are all denied due to lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for arthritis and a right knee condition due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran will be asked to provide any service treatment records or private medical records, and an appropriate VA examination will be scheduled.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for back pain, bilateral knee pain, gastritis, sweating at night, sleep apnea, fatigue, and stiffness. However, these claims are still being remanded as further medical examination is needed to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records, particularly regarding his back disability which is inextricably intertwined with his TDIU claim.

The Board has found that further development is necessary to verify the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right ear retracted tympanic membrane, hernia repair, right knee disability, and low back disability are all remanded for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right knee disability, and left knee disability as the evidence did not establish a nexus between current disabilities and service.,There is no credible finding of arthritis in either knee within a year after separation from service, thus there is no basis to presume service connection for arthritis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for PTSD, right knee strain, left knee strain, and TDIU due to deficiencies in VA examinations and incomplete treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD service connection is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran experienced a personal assault during service, which led to her current PTSD diagnosis. For the right knee disability, the Veteran's pre-existing condition increased in severity during service and thus the issue of direct service connection will be considered.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability has increased in severity since her last VA examination, and she is entitled to a new VA examination to determine the current severity of her condition.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as service connection for a bilateral knee condition. The issues regarding lung cancer and pyorrhea remain on appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint and degenerative disc disease, thoracolumbar spine, with right femoral and sciatic nerve radiculopathy status post lumbar fusion and residual scar, as well as his service-connected degenerative disc and degenerative joint disease, cervical spine, with left radiculopathy status post compression fracture C5 and cervical fusion with residual scar, have been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right knee medial and lateral meniscal tears, anterior cruciate ligament tear, and tricompartmental osteoarthritis has also been granted.,The Veteran's service-connected right heel injury (Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis) has been granted.,The Veteran's service connection for a headache disability secondary to his now service-connected cervical spine disabilities has been granted.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and remanded the issues of service connection for right knee degenerative joint disease, left knee degenerative joint disease (secondary to right knee), and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability (including strain and arthritis), and right knee disability. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of these conditions at the time of the decision.,Service connection was also denied for a left knee disability. The Veteran's current osteoarthritis of the left knee was not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened and granted. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral foot and knee disabilities.