Knee Board decisions

Service connection for DJD of the thoracolumbar spine as secondary to service-connected bilateral knee disabilities is granted.,An effective date earlier than January 30, 2015, for the grant of service connection for bilateral ankle and bilateral knee disorders is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability has worsened since his last examination, and a new evaluation is needed to determine appropriate staged ratings.

The Board restored the Veteran's right knee disability rating from 10% to 30%, effective June 1, 2011, finding that the reduction was not proper due to sustained improvement in the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for a rating in excess of 10 percent for right shoulder disability. The cervical spine and right knee issues are remanded, as well as the PTSD issue. TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has determined that new examinations are needed due to the Veteran's suggestion of worsening symptoms since his last VA examination in April 2014.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss, hip and knee conditions, prostate disability, and erectile dysfunction. The claims are being returned for further development and examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee osteoarthritis and instability due to an apparent discrepancy in the degree of severity of his range of motion on flexion reported by the VA examiner. The Veteran is required to report for any necessary examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, numbness in the left hand, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The case is remanded for further development regarding the claim of numbness in the left hand.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's left knee disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and left ankle disabilities due to insufficient examination findings. The Veteran is required to undergo additional medical examinations to determine if he currently has these conditions, and whether they are related to his military service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU and failed to complete the required VA Form 21-8940, which prevented the Board from assessing his employment status.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and a rating in excess of 10 percent for his right knee disability, including lateral instability prior to September 23, 2013, is remanded due to incomplete records. The VA examiner will differentiate the symptoms associated with the service-connected right knee disability from those associated with non-service connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but denied for a left knee disability.

The Board has denied reopening the claim of service connection for bilateral knee disability due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for a compensable initial disability rating for tinea cruris of the left ankle and for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for left and right knee patellofemoral syndrome and external hemorrhoids are being remanded due to the submission of new evidence since her last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim to reopen and find that his right knee exostosis was incurred in service. The condition is rated at 100%.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left knee OSD and arthritis, DM (diabetes mellitus), sleep apnea, high blood pressure/HTN, left hand contusion residuals, frostbite of the right foot, frostbite of the left foot, neuropathy of the feet, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), and chronic headaches. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.,The decision also noted that some conditions may be related to pre-existing conditions or other factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to September 10, 2011 for hallux valgus of the right foot and service connection for a left knee disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence showing the left knee disorder was related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left and right knee arthritis as they require additional examination to determine the current level of severity.