Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination. The claim for PTSD has been reopened, but further evidence is needed to establish its etiology.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are deemed insufficient to determine if he is unemployable. A new examination and updated VA treatment records are needed to assess the cumulative effect of his conditions on employment.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disorder, bilateral knee arthritis, and bilateral ankle arthritis. The appeal regarding the Veteran's bilateral hip strain is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a right knee disability due to new and material evidence. The claims for service connection for heart condition, type II diabetes mellitus, and eye disability are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability characterized as chondromalacia of the left knee, finding that it is at least as likely as not aggravated by military service. The claims for TBI and an acquired psychiatric disorder were denied.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted, and the issue of increased rating for bilateral plantar fasciitis is remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right ankle, left ankle, and left knee disabilities due to lack of evidence showing a chronic disability during or within one year after service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, right elbow, and low back disorders due to outstanding VA treatment records not being obtained.

The Veteran's knee disabilities are being remanded for additional examination and rating consideration due to changes in his reported symptoms since the last examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in multiple conditions, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with thoracolumbar spondylosis and scoliosis, left knee chondromalacia with subluxation, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to inadequate examination in March 2013. The issues will require further development.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a right knee disability, including DJD. The claim is granted as the evidence supports a finding that the Veteran's current DJD is related to his in-service injury.

The Board has granted service connection for DJD of the bilateral hands and DJD of the bilateral knees, finding that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of a nexus to service.

The Board has granted service connection for left wrist pain, right wrist pain, left hip pain, and right hip pain. Service connection is also granted for left and right knee disabilities due to combat participation. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities remains pending as a remanded issue.

The Board has determined that there is new evidence sufficient to reopen several service connection claims, including for severe headaches, auditory hallucinations, left knee condition, right knee condition, chronic sinusitis, and other conditions. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development of his records and a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee and left foot disabilities, as well as his lumbar spine, bilateral hip, bilateral knee, left leg, and bilateral ankle disabilities. The claims are remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and conduct new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations to determine the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine and left knee disabilities, as well as for a right knee disorder and inguinal hernia. The claims for increased ratings are also being remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his left and right knee osteoarthritis, as well as his right ear hearing loss. The issues of entitlement to service connection for right knee lateral instability and a compensable evaluation for isolated systolic hypertension have been remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee instability, right knee disability, post-traumatic midfoot mass, hearing loss, tinnitus, arrhythmia, hypertension, prostatic hypertrophy, acne rosacea, tension headaches, and tingling and numbness in hands, fingers, toes and forehead. The appeals are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to procedural errors and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding his character of discharge during his second period of service.