Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's right knee strain and patellar tendonitis, as well as his right shoulder tendinopathy, have been granted service connection. The initial disability rating for the cervical strain remains at 10 percent, while a higher rating is denied for the left knee strain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional examinations and evaluations to address inconsistencies in his diagnoses and treatment records, particularly regarding lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Veteran's right knee disability has worsened, and a new examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a separate disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5257 for his service-connected right and left knee disabilities due to inadequate examinations in prior decisions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation during the periods of concern, as he was able to maintain several entry-level jobs.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his request for a Board hearing in June 2018.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for a right knee disability because new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for Multiple Sclerosis, bilateral knee disability, dizziness, fatigue syndrome, and bilateral leg disability secondary to MS due to in-service service in the Persian Gulf. Additional records are needed from the Veteran's Reserve service and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were remanded in February 2017. The Board has not yet readjudicated these claims and provided a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC).

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for right and left knee degenerative joint disease (DJD) due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for another VA examination.

The Veteran's right knee arthoplasty and hip osteoarthritis have been granted increased ratings, with the right knee receiving a 60% rating since June 1, 2011. The left hip osteoarthritis has also received an increase to a 50% rating since July 1, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability had its onset during his period of service and is related to an in-service injury, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed left knee disability, finding that her current condition is not related to an in-service injury and was not shown within a presumptive period.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inaccurate VA examination, and a new examination is needed to determine if the veteran's current right knee disability, including DJD, is related to his in-service injury.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for back and left knee disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct relationship to her military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The decision also remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for a stomach disorder.

The Board has determined that additional examinations are needed to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected knee and lumbar spine disabilities, as the existing VA examination reports do not comply with the requirements set forth in Correia v. McDonald (2016).

The appeal on most of the issues has been withdrawn and is dismissed. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, upper extremities, hypertension, gout, asthma, COPD, and right ankle disability have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for arthrosis of the lumbar spine, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder. Service connection for insomnia as a manifestation of PTSD is also granted. The claims for hypertension, headaches, pulmonary disability, sleep apnea, and diabetes mellitus are remanded due to lack of definitive opinions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder has been reopened, but the claim remains denied.,Service connection is granted for right and left knee disorders. The Veteran's current diagnoses of osteoarthritis are not considered to be related to his military service.,Service connection for a skin disorder (due to exposure to mustard gas) is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to service or to mustard gas exposure.