Knee Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee conditions began during active service and granted service connection for both left and right knee disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral knee disabilities due to a lack of recent VA examinations and the need for additional testing as per Correia v. McDonald, 2016.

Service connection is granted for thoracolumbar spine degenerative disc disease and lumbar spine spondylosis, as well as other service-connected disabilities. The effective date for the award of service connection for hemorrhoids is set at November 29, 2015.

The Board has denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to the Veteran not meeting the durational requirements for a total disability rating, and also because he was not a former POW at the time of his death. The appeal is remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's right knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess the current condition of his service-connected right knee disabilities, including instability and functional loss.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for left and right knee disabilities due to inadequate examination that did not consider flare-ups, which could cause additional functional limitation.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hip condition, cervical strain, and right knee condition due to lack of a current diagnosis. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board granted a separate rating of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of each lower extremity as a complication of service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's left shoulder disability and arthritis of the lumbar spine with limitation of motion, right knee arthritis, and diabetes mellitus, Type II with retinopathy are all remanded for further examination and rating.

The Veteran's request to reopen his service connection claim for PTSD is granted. The Board also remanded the claims for bilateral knee disorders, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and depressive disorder) due to lack of sufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for back, cervical spine, bilateral knee, gout and hypertension have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals during a June 2016 Board hearing.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for lumbar spine disability, bilateral knee disability, left ankle disability, and left foot disability due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for DJD and total knee replacement of the left knee. The appeal regarding right disability and hepatitis C is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as a psychiatric disability. The Veteran is presumed to be sound upon entry into service, so any pre-existing conditions must not have been aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess the current severity of his left knee and right ankle disabilities.

The claims for service connection for left knee sprain, right knee sprain, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The claim for service connection for plantar fasciitis has been remanded.,The claims for service connection for conjunctivitis and sleep disorder (including sleep apnea) have also been remanded.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for slight recurrent subluxation or lateral instability of the right knee, limitation of flexion and extension of the right knee, and dislocation of semilunar cartilage of the right knee from October 16, 2011 to March 28, 2012. The issue of entitlement to an extension of a temporary total disability evaluation for convalescence following right knee surgery beyond May 1, 2012 is also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss has been denied.,Claims regarding the Veteran's knee, shoulder, deviated septum, sleep apnea, lacunar infarcts, PTSD, and dental conditions have been remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of both knees due to new evidence of worsening symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability during or prior to the appeal period.,Service connection for skin rash to the back, back of arms, and sides is denied because there is no medical evidence linking the condition to military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection of a bilateral knee disability. The claims for body pain, bilateral hearing loss, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are dismissed. Service connection is granted for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection for neck disability, bilateral knee disability, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are remanded.