Knee Board decisions

The Board denied service connection for tendonitis, bilateral knees, arthralgia, bilateral ankles, and bilateral pes planus as there was no evidence showing these conditions were related to service.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral hearing loss, cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, left and right thigh disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, tinnitus, and GERD. The remaining issues are pending further examination and evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the cases due to incomplete information and need for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's left knee disability during a VA examination conducted in July 2017.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: service connection for GERD, increased rating for right knee disability, and increased rating for left knee disability. The Veteran's claims will be further evaluated after obtaining his complete STRs and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding that the Veteran's current bilateral knee disability is at least as likely as not related to his in-service injuries.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left knee. A separate rating of 20 percent for left knee locking and effusion has been granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions, including lower back and cervical spine disabilities, bilateral shoulder, hip, leg, knee, Achilles tendon, ankle, and foot disabilities. The claims are being returned to VA for additional development.

The Veteran's cervical spine strain with DDD and spinal stenosis, right knee PFS with DJD, and left knee PFS with DJD are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board found the evidence insufficient to warrant a higher rating.,Right and left knee conditions have been rated based on their current manifestations without considering any potential aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of left third and fourth fingers, right ankle, low back disability, left shin scar, PTSD, bilateral knee disabilities, stress fracture of the left tibia, right shoulder disability (prior to April 21, 2014), right clavicle disability, and right wrist disability have been denied. The Veteran's claims for service connection of right fifth finger disability are also denied.,The Board has dismissed the issues of service connection for low back disability, left shin scar, and PTSD as there is no case or controversy with respect to these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient clarification of the June 2016 VA knee examination findings and the need for another orthopedic examination if necessary.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a left knee disorder and remanded the issue of entitlement to an increased rating for low back disability. The case is now pending further development.

The Board has granted a temporary total evaluation for the period from February 1, 2012 to February 1, 2013 and an initial 30 percent rating since February 1, 2013 for the Veteran's right knee disability. The remaining issues of entitlement to higher ratings are remanded due to need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for right and left knee conditions due to insufficient medical evidence. The Veteran's right knee condition is related to an in-service injury, but his left knee condition is not. The Board also requested additional opinions regarding whether the left knee condition is secondary to the right knee condition.

The Veteran's left knee disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee disability. The claim for hypertension was denied due to lack of new and material evidence, while the claims for sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities were dismissed.

The Veteran's heart disease and bilateral knee arthritis are denied as service connection is not established. The Board found no evidence of onset in service or a relationship to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for cervical spine, lumbosacral spine, left hip, and right knee disabilities due to incomplete service treatment records. The VA is instructed to obtain any outstanding records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his current disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded issues regarding obstructive sleep apnea, left knee sprain with patellofemoral syndrome, non-displaced patella fracture, and medial meniscal tear. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the RO/AMC for additional development.

The Board has determined that further examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any right elbow, right foot, bilateral knee, or bilateral ankle disorders. The Veteran's service records indicate injuries in service, but a VA examiner will be required to provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to insufficient medical evidence addressing the Veteran's lay statements and the findings of his separation examination. The case will be returned for further development.