Knee Board decisions

The Veteran's ratings for left knee instability and residuals of frostbite, both in the left foot and right foot, were improperly reduced. The 20% rating for left knee instability is restored to February 1, 2014, while the 30% rating for residuals of frostbite in both feet remains at that level.

The claims of service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, a nervous condition, lumbar spine disability, hypertension, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded six issues for further development and opinion, including right shoulder disability, low back disability, bilateral knee disability, head injury residuals, depression, and cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of a rib cage fracture has been denied as there is no current diagnosis or other competent finding of a current disorder.,The Veteran's hiatal hernia has been granted an increased rating to 30 percent, but the case is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology and severity.,The Veteran's left knee disorder, right knee disorder, cervical spine degenerative disc disease (neck), and degenerative arthritis of the spine (back) have all been remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's residuals of a right foot fracture has also been remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's migraines have been remanded for an updated VA examination to assess their current severity.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for left and right knee disabilities due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran's statements, along with his spouse's testimony, suggest that he experienced knee pain during service and after discharge.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and for additional development of his medical records.

The Board denied service connection for left shoulder, right hip, left hip, and right knee DJD as well as tinnitus. The evidence did not show a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical records and need for clarification on continuity of symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to incomplete VA examinations, which did not include all necessary findings. The Veteran will need to undergo new VA medical examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and new evidence is needed for a determination on the rating of bilateral knee conditions.

The Veteran's knee and hip disabilities, as well as his lower extremity sciatica, are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for additional medical examination.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right wrist disability, vitiligo, thyroid disability, lateral instability of the right knee, and a right knee lateral meniscus tear with chronic sprain and early degenerative changes. The claim for increased ratings for these conditions was also dismissed. The Board remanded the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neck and right knee disorders, as well as his claim for bilateral hearing loss. The Veterans Law Judge ordered an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to determine whether the Veteran’s symptoms present a functional impairment of earning capacity and if so, whether such is related to service or his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new one must be conducted considering all relevant medical records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected right knee patellofemoral syndrome with arthritis and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis. The appeals are being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing the Veteran with a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral knee disorders and a right shoulder disorder, as these issues require additional medical opinions to address whether her conditions are related to her in-service duties.

Service connection for IBS, as due to Gulf War undiagnosed illness, is granted. Service connection for headaches, left arm condition, left wrist condition, right index finger injury, lower back condition, right knee condition, left knee condition, and right eye condition are denied. Service connection for fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, both as due to Gulf War undiagnosed illness, are also denied.

The Board denied service connection for a low back disability and a right knee disability, finding that the evidence did not establish current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board denied service connection for lumbar spine degenerative joint disease and congenital spinal stenosis, bilateral pes planus, right knee condition, left knee condition, and right wrist condition (dominant) as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions originated during active service.