Knee Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand injury and remanded the issues of service connection for his right knee condition, bilateral foot condition, left eye condition (iris sphincter tear), and left shoulder disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his current knee conditions.

The Board has decided to remand several claims, including service connection for a foot disability and increased evaluations for knee disabilities. The Veteran's substance abuse disorder is also being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions and set the effective date to October 1, 2012.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's most recent VA examinations are outdated and remands for new evaluations to determine current disability levels.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disabilities have been denied, with the exception of a separate compensable rating for right knee instability before July 17, 2017. The claim for an increased rating for right knee disability has also been denied.

The Veteran's service connection for residuals of a stroke is granted. Ratings are granted for instability and arthritis in the right knee, as well as increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and peripheral neuropathy. The Veteran also receives TDIU benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current left knee disorder is related to service, specifically his April 1985 injury. The VA needs to obtain an addendum opinion or a new examination to consider these factors.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been denied as the new evidence received does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness for pre-existing disorders.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's neck, bilateral knee, and bilateral ankle disorders. The examiner will need to determine if these conditions are at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims to reopen his service connection for left knee, right knee, and cervical spine disabilities. The claim for sleep apnea was granted with a 50% evaluation but not increased further.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and a rating in excess of 30 percent for bipolar II disorder, PTSD, and generalized anxiety disorder prior to July 8, 2014, and in excess of 70 percent from July 8, 2014, were dismissed. The appeal seeking entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities was remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to April 12, 2013 for service connection of his claimed disabilities due to lack of evidence showing he filed any VA benefits claim within a year of his military discharge.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for joint aches and pains disorder, left knee disorder, fibromyalgia, and undiagnosed illness as there is no competent evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee degenerative joint disease is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional development.

The Veteran's clothing was damaged by his service-connected bilateral knee braces, and he is granted a clothing allowance for 2015.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left knee disability (secondary to service-connected left ankle disability), and increased rating for his left ankle disability due to incomplete medical opinions and lack of recent VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pain and clicking of bilateral knees has been reopened, but the claim remains denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back disability is also denied.