Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any currently present right and/or left knee and ankle disabilities, as well as whether these conditions are related to service. The Veteran's claims for service connection on this basis are being remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for right shoulder impingement syndrome, lumbosacral spondylosis, and central serous retinopathy of the left eye have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of a separate rating for laxity of the left knee has also been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the Veteran's testimony at his July 2018 Travel Board hearing, which could impact a decision on the issue of entitlement to TDIU. The right knee and ankle disabilities will be evaluated again, and any changes in rating will affect the TDIU determination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for low back and right knee disabilities due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and coronary artery disease with ischemic cardiomyopathy, as well as a higher rating for his right knee disability, are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined and will be remanded concurrently.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left knee disorder. However, the issue of service connection for his left shoulder disorder is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is denied as the evidence does not show that his service-connected disabilities alone prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for optic neuropathy and cirrhosis of the liver, but has remanded the left knee disorder issue due to lack of a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various knee and foot conditions, including as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities have been rated at a non-compensable level since the appeal period began. However, due to painful motion of both knees, which does not result in compensable limitation of motion, an initial compensable rating of 10 percent has been granted for each knee disability prior to July 24, 2014.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases due to ongoing complaints of wrist, neck, shoulder, ankle, lumbar spine, left knee, right knee, and epididymo-orchitis disorders. The case requires further examination and opinion regarding these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection on multiple conditions related to Gulf War exposure is remanded due to unresolved issues and need for further evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right hip and knee injuries. The Veteran claims these conditions are related to an in-service injury, but a VA examination is needed to determine if there is a link between service and his current disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic left knee disability in service and no competent evidence linking his current left knee disability to his period of service.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disorder, right knee disorder, left knee arthritis, and left knee instability prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, requiring further development and a new medical opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's left knee condition and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for low back, right knee, and left knee conditions due to lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or related to active service.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder and right shoulder disabilities, as well as an initial compensable rating for paralyzed true right vocal cord prior to October 28, 2015 and greater than 10 percent thereafter for left knee disability. The Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active duty service.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claims for left hip and left knee disabilities was denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.,Service connection for left leg disability (other than the left hip, knee, or ankle) is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral osteoarthritis of the knees, left ankle and foot, gout, eye conditions, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, diabetes mellitus type II, and major depressive disorder. The appeals were based on a direct relationship to service without any presumption or secondary theory.