Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted due to exposure to loud noise during service and continuous symptoms post-service. The right and left knee disorders are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their relationship to service-connected back disability.

The Board has determined that the claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right hip disability, and right knee disability must be remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a back disability, left knee osteoarthritis, right knee osteoarthritis, headache disability, and anxiety disorder are all granted. The claim for an increased evaluation of the Veteran's anxiety disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for left knee chondromalacia, right knee chondromalacia, and lumbosacral strain as additional evidence is needed to assess their severity.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is granted service connection. The low back and chronic sleep disabilities are denied as not related to service or a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for a low back disability, retinal detachment in the right eye, lipomas (skin condition), and a right knee disability due to incomplete compliance with previous remand directives. The issues are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted for cervical spine disability, left knee disability, and obstructive sleep apnea. The appeals for thoracolumbar spine disability, bilateral hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and acquired psychiatric disability are still pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confine him substantially to his dwelling and immediate premises, thus denying special monthly compensation benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for a left knee disorder and right knee disorder, including as secondary to a left knee disorder due to incomplete or inaccurate medical opinions in the file. The AOJ is instructed to obtain any outstanding private treatment records and conduct a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's attempt to reopen his claim for service connection for a right knee disability because no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of an ankle disorder secondary to his right knee disability and for increased ratings for his right knee instability and status post MCL repair with mild laxity. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current ankle disorder or right knee conditions to his service-connected disabilities.

The claim for service connection of a left knee disability is reopened, and the issues of rating for right knee disability and TDIU determination are remanded.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims for service connection of left and right knee conditions. However, the claims are denied as there is no credible evidence linking the current knee conditions to active service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for bilateral knee disabilities need further examination and evaluation due to recent surgery.

The Veteran's right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy is rated at 40 percent from March 16, 2018. The remaining issues are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for left knee disability, right knee chondrocalcinosis, and psychiatric disability due to service-connected right knee disability. The effective date of service connection remains unresolved.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a disability rating for his left knee and service connection for his right knee, which he contends is secondary to his service-connected left knee. The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion clarifying the basis of the earlier opinions on these matters.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD. The case is being sent back for a VA examination to determine if the sleep apnea is related to his active duty service or any service-connected conditions, and whether it is caused by medications used to treat other conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further examination and evaluation due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's knee disabilities and left arm disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left knee disability, characterized as postoperative residuals of a left knee injury, is rated at 20 percent prior to April 19, 2016. A separate 20 percent rating for the same condition is granted since June 1, 2017.